Lone Star Outdoor Show

Synopsis of Episode 60:

We start things out by checking in with our ‘ol buddy Mike McKinney of WTHO. Mike is the authority on harvesting trophy aoudad in West Texas. And seeing how a huge ram is on my bucket list, well it only makes sense to get the low down from the man who knows these animals better than anyone.

Then a very special guest drops by. His show Pigman the Series is the number one rated show on the Sportsman Channel and he has taken the world of outdoor television by storm. Brian “Pigman” Quaca has never been short on words and that is no exception here. A native of Central Texas, bow, rifle, hog doggin…it doesn’t matter, Brian is a master at killing huge pigs! I guarantee ya you’ll be entertained by our chat, I know I was!

We round things out with one of the best acts going in country music. Jamie Richards is not only one of my favorite singer/songwriters, but he is also an avid bass fisherman. So we’ll talk a little music and a whole lotta bassin’ with Jamie. Hope you enjoy the show!

Synopsis of Episode 58:

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the new hunting show The Wild Within then I strongly suggest you do so. It airs on the Travel Channel and host Steven Rinella joins us to talk about his show which places a new spin on the hunting show genre. Steven is a renown outdoor writer and lifelong outdoorsman. The Wild Within focuses on our nature as humans to hunt game, and the process of turning wild game into delicious table fare. No part of the process is left out from the harvest to butchering to the actual meal itself. This is a show like none other and Steven proved to be one heck of an exciting interview.

Steven field dressing and then butchering a bull moose in Alberta Canada

Steven and his guide Charles after a successful hog dog knife hunt in Hawaii

We also check in with our very own Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick . Heath not only gives us an in depth look at the Fork bite, but also breaks down the 2011 Bassmaster Classic which was dominated from start to finish by Kevin Van Dam who won his 4th Classic title and a $500,000 paycheck. He shattered records like it was going out of style en route to posting a 69 lb 11 oz overall weight (a new Classic record). He also decimated the field by winning by over 10 lbs!!! It was all KVD all weekend on the Louisiana Delta and Heath talks about the best of the best.

Lastly we are joined by Bryan Moore who tells us about the revolutionary new feeder made by Capsule Game Feeders. This is unlike anything you have ever seen and comes with a 20 year warranty to boot!

Synopsis of Episode 56:

We start off the broadcast by visiting with El Campo, Texas’ Chad Waligura. Named the 2010 Pathfinder Award Winner by SCI, Chad is the owner/editor of Disabled Hunter Magazine. Paralyzed after an accident at 17, Chad has overcome the odds and has traveled the globe wingshooting and hunting some of the world’s most prized big game species. He also has invented numerous mechanisms designed to help the disabled hunter fire their weapon.

Next, Texas ASA Federation State Director Mike Smith stops by to tell us about the ASA. This great organization sets up 3D archery shoots all over the state. Participants range in age from 6 to 70 and there are two divisions archers can compete in. 3D is a great way to keep your skills sharp during the off season and there are tons of great folks already involved. I am looking forward to participating in my first ASA shoot this spring!

We round things out by chatting with Lone Star Outdoor News Associate Editor Connor Harrison. Connor’s recent front page piece focused on the fact that our state’s upland hunters really have no idea where their conservation dollars are going. Also, how does TPWD track how much funding should be allocated for our turkey, pheasant and quail? Connor did some digging and you may not like what he found out…

Synopsis of Episode 55:

Spotted Sea Trout are always a hot topic along the Texas coast. This week was no exception as TPWD officials met to discuss whether or not to reduce the current 10 fish daily bag limit down to a 5 fish limit. Whether you are for it or against it- the decision was made to keep the limit at 10 fish per angler TPWD Coastal Fisheries Director Robin Reichers drops in to elaborate on why TPWD felt it best to leave the current regulations in place.

Another great Texas whitetail season has come and gone and few know Texas deer better than biologist and big game hunter Larry Weishuhn. We discuss management, antler restrictions, the potential impact of feral hogs on a deer herd, helicopter crashes and a whole lot more with ‘Mr. Whitetail’ himself.

We round things out with new TPWD Desert Bighorn Sheep Program Leader Froylan Hernandez. By the 1960s, the desert bighorn was completey wiped out of Texas. But the ensuing decades resulted in TPWD working hard to restore the desert bighorn to much of it’s historical range within our great state. Froylan talks about the history of the bighorn’s struggle and how it resulted in where we are today. There are over 1,000 animals currently in the Trans Pecos and less than 5 weeks ago, TPWD captured and relocated over 40 sheep to Big Bend Ranch State Park. It’s taken hard work and dedication but it’s awesome to see the desert bighorn sheep thriving in Texas once again!

Synopsis of Episode 50:

We kick things off with a Lake Texoma Striper report with our buddy Captain John Brett of Texoma Striper Fishing. It’s the time of the year when most of us have deer, ducks, and upland birds on our minds- but it also means the big ‘uns out at Texoma are hungry and agressive!

Then we check in with TPWD’s Dove and Crane Program Leader Corey Mason. Dove season re-opened on Christmas morning and we delve into the huge numbers of on the migrating mourning dove that Texas hunters have the chance to harvest. Also, how do dove behavioral patterns differ from the September opener to the current late season opportunity?

We round out the show with an in-depth discussion with Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson. Rob’s latest column Delta Waterfowl- Ducks Unlimited, Innovation Drives Competition has sparked much interest in recent weeks. How healthy is the relationship between the two organizations? Should they strive towards working together more closely? We hunters have to choose who we give our conservation dollars to, and it’s no secret that Delta and DU compete for our dollars. Rob gives us his take on why that’s a great thing.

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Synopsis of Episode 45:

This past week I was able to harvest my first buck. A Montague County 8 pt at Goin Day Hunts. My friend Don Gresham invited me back out to his place in Forestburg and Don joins the show to visit with us about my hunt and Goin Day Hunts. The Greshams have had this land in the family for well over a century and I was honored to head out there and share their little piece of paradise.

Becky Clark of Rustic Reminders Taxidermy and GR8 Mounts also stops by to talk taxidermy with us. It’s very important that you take special care of any trophy animal you plan on taking to the taxidermist. Becky reminds us of some of those important details that often get overlooked. GR8 Mounts have also donated 3 awesome mounts that we will give away on the show including: a whitetail shoulder mount, a full body bobcat mount and a whitetail euro mount. Be sure to listen to the podcast to find out how you can have your trophy mounted for FREE!!!

Shawn Roberts, Regional Field Supervisor of the National Wild Turkey Federation drops in to give us an overview of the NWTF. The great thing about this organization is that so much of the money raised stays in your state and with your local chapter. I am thrilled to be involved as we look to get a chapter going in McKinney. If you have any interest in conservation and making a difference then contact Shawn as we always want to add to the 75 NWTF chapters already in Texas. Shawn with a beautiful spring gobbler:

And of course November means bucks and ducks are on the brain, but it also means that Sharelunkers are usually being caught on Lake Fork. Our Lake Fork guide Heath Hardwick checks in to give us a detailed report on what the big ones are hitting and where. It’s gonna be a great show.

Synopsis of Episode 44:

Should be a pretty educational show this week. Staying on top of current issues that could directly affect the Texas outdoorsman is something I take pride in so off the top we’ll visit with Matt Dunn- Legislative Director for the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Why visit with Matt??? Because Obama and the EPA are attempting to ramrod some ridiculous legislation down our throats. The proposed legislation was drafted by the EPA and would allow the sale of E15 gasoline. E15 is NOT compatible with any marine engine, lawnmower, weed whacker (or any other gas powered equipment) and even vehicles manufactured prior to 2007. Ethanol is bad for the engine and the consumers and all 13 million registered boat owners in the country could be left holding the bag on this deal.

Then, Dale Hall- CEO Ducks Unlimited drops in. Dale was recently named the Conservationist of the Year by America’s Wetland Foundation. We get into that, the lasting effects of the tragic Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Dale’s favorite place to hunt, and the most glaring obstacle he forsees facing the future of our continents waterfowl.

We round things out with a guy who is probably a lot like you and me. Van Zandt County bowhunter Greg Goodrich joins the show to talk about an unfortunate decision he made while deer hunting last week. Greg killed an 8pt buck that failed to meet the Antler Restrictions in Grayson County. Greg didn’t realize this until he laid his hands on his buck. This was his largest archery deer ever harvested and while a trophy to him- the deer was still illegal. So he was faced with two choices: 1) walk away and let the deer lay in the woods OR 2) tag the deer and turn himself in… Lets just say that I am proud to have such an honest man and ethical hunter as a guest. Lots to learn from Greg’s experience!

Greg’s illegal Hagerman 8pt.

Synopsis of Episode 39:

This is going to be a great show as Texas Governor Rick Perry drops in to talk about his passion for the outdoors. Bow or rifle? Favorite place in Texas to hunt? What can we do to make fishing safe again on Lake Falcon? All that and a whole lot more with the Governor.

Then we will visit with Marko Barrett of the Las Raices Ranch. Marko oversees the management of the 4,100 acre ranch and his father Mark is the lucky man who just shot a 300 inch native deer on the property. This deer, nicknamed “Mini” will likely break the Texas record for any deer that hasn’t been genetically altered in any way. We’ll find out about Las Raices’ management philosophy, the history behind “Mini”, how hard did they have to hunt him and everything else concerning this record buck!

Mark Barrett with the potential All-Time Highest Scoring Native Texas Whitetail- “Mini”.

Also, don’t forget that next week we will visit with a very special young Texan- Noah Thompson– of Austin. Noah recently competed at the Youth World Fly Fishing Championships in Slovakia and earned the Bronze Medal!

Synopsis of Episode 38:

Well, we’ve been around a little while now. So this week I thought I would take the opportunity to revisit some of my favorite interviews over the past 8 months. Maybe you have heard some of these, maybe all of them or maybe you haven’t heard any of them. Either way, I think you’ll enjoy hearing some of my favorite moments with Bill Dance, Phil Robertson and Ted Nugent. So pull up a chair around the campfire and take a load off with 3 of the most influential characters in the outdoor industry.

Synopsis of Episode 33:

Education and Conservation are key this week. We start things off with Mark Cunningham Foundation President and CEO Dyron Bynum. The Mark Cunningham Foundation was founded in honor of Mark who passed after a long battle with cancer. The foundation formed in his honor now focuses on taking kids suffering from cancer into the outdoors. MCF has some great hunts planned for some special young people this fall, but they need your help locating more kids that deserve to go on these outdoor adventures. Dyron tells us how we can get involved and hopefully make a difference in a youngster’s life.

Then we sit down and talk whitetails with Ceasar Kleberg Wildlife Research Insititute Biologist Dave Hewitt. Dave is an expert in wildlife nutrition and was a source for the recent Lone Star Outdoor News article “What’s on the Inside Counts”. We dive into the stomach contents of whitetails and reasons why many hunters could benefit from examing the stomach of harvested deer. You might be suprised at what you’ll find, and it may even make you a more effective hunter.

Lastly, we visit with Lake Texoma striper guide John Brett. With over 40 years experience chasing striped bass, John has seen it all. Even landing a 67 lb salt water striper years ago. Why is Lake Texoma the nation’s premiere striper fishery? What does it have that other reservoirs don’t? When is the best time of the year for striper and tips on how to land ’em.

A happy angler with a nice haul of Texoma Stripers after fishing with Captain John Brett: