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:

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Got another good one lined up this week. Off the top we get it going with TPWD Fish Hatchery Director Todd Engling. Todd oversees all 5 of Texas’ freshwater hatchery centers and his department recently took 5 monstrous striped bass out of the Guadalupe River and moved them to the Possum Kingdom hatchery. WHAT, 50 lb stripers in the Guadalupe? I never woulda thought so either. But these fish come thru the Canyon Lake dam and seem to thrive in the river. Here is a 48 lb monster that TPWD took out of the river to use as brood stock at the Possum Kingdom hatchery:

Then we let TPWD tell their side of the story regarding partnering with the Humane Society (see last week’s interview with Texas Fish & Game Magazine Editor Don Zaidle to find out more). TPWD is set to match up to $10,000 in an attempt to find non-lethal methods to remove these jackasses from Big Bend State Park. The invasive species needs to go and Texas Parks and Wildlife Special Assistant to the State Parks Director -Kevin Good- joins us to explain TPWD’s stance on the issue which has so many of us riled up! I’ll ask him all ya’lls tough questions. Feral burros compete with native animals such as desert big horn sheep and deer.

Then we round things out when Michael McCloud joins us. Michael and his son recently founded an amateur bass fishing tournament- Big Bass Mania. Which takes place on Sam Rayburn this June. The tournament was started to help raise money for wounded soldiers. With a $120,000 payout this is also one of the highest paying amateur tournaments ever. Michael gives us all the details.

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Wow, what a show this is gonna be. I always tell ya’ll that this is the most controversial outdoors show out there and this week just further proves that’s the case! Off the top we are joined by the Back Country Lands Director for the Sportsman’s Conservation Project of Trout Unlimited- Dave Glenn. The current administration has moved to pass HR 1581- a piece of legislation that would allow for new roadways and increased access to some of the last remaining tracts of pristine, unmolested tracts of public land in the Western United States. These remote wide open spaces are still the way Teddy Roosevelt envisioned them and untouched habitat means better fishing and bigger bucks/bulls. Here is Dave with a nice Wyoming bull elk strapped to his horse:

Then we crank it up even more when Texas Fish & Game Magazine Editor & Chief Don Zaidle drops in talk about his latest article “TPWD In A Deal With The Devil?” The article focuses on TPWD’s decision to work with the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States). HSUS is the biggest anti-hunting faction in the world and TPWD has pledged to match up $10,000 to partner with HSUS in an effort to find non-lethal means of dealing with the nuisance feral donkey herds that are destroying areas of Big Bend State Park. The burros are an invasive species and policy has always been to exterminate them on site- well until the olive branch between TPWD and HSUS became evident. Don is fired up and I guarandamntee ya I am as well! Feral burros compete with native species such as big horn sheep and deer for food and habitat in Big Bend:

We then cap things off when our longtime friend and angler Stan Nabozny stops in. Stan holds over 150 IGFA world fishing records and just received their Lifetime Achievement Award so to say he is the most well rounded and versatile angler in Texas is pretty much spot on. He plans on going after a few tarpon records this summer. Stan has been tarpon fishing the Texas coast for many years now and he talks about this rejuvenated fishery. Tarpon are beloved by anglers for their fierce fighting spirit and majestic jumps:

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We are hunting heavy this weekend. Kicking things off with Dr. Joe Ables of Decatur, TX. For those of you who might not know- Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is the biggest threat to Texas whitetails. Killing tens of thousands of animals last year alone. Well Dr. Ables has invested his time and energy into studying this deer killer and he has successfully come up with a treatment! This is a groundbreaking development in whitetail medicine and will benefit both our native and pen raised deer populations. Dr. Ables with a nice buck post treatment.

Then we are talkin’ late season gobblers with renowned outdoor writer and Real Tree Turkey Editor Steve Hickoff. Steve has been chasing toms for decades and with only 3 weeks left in the season we pick his brain on how to bag that last minute gobbler! Calling, locations, and decoy setups are just a few of the things we discuss.

We round out the broadcast with some suppressor talk. TPWD recently passed some regulatory changes that will allow the use of suppressors when hunting wild game animals such as deer or turkey etc. There are quite a few benefits involved with this decision and Scott Bittner w/ Silenced America will educate us on exactly what all this means. I love talkin’ guns! It’s gonna be a great show!

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Dang! What a great show we have planned for this weekend. Spring is here and if you aren’t chasing longbeards then you should be wetting a line somewhere. So we are keeping it fishing heavy this week and we kick it off with our Coastal Fishing Report when our longtime friend Captain Len Girard joins us live from Corpus Christi Bay! The trout are plentiful as are black drum and the redfish are starting to move back in. Captain Len with a monster bull red!

Then a real treat when Scooter Bivens of the History Channel’s hit show Mudcats stops by. Scooter has won numerous noodling championships including the Okie Noodling Invitational Championship as featured on Mudcats. Now that Texas has a legal noodling season I am sure Scooter can share some tips for those of us who are new to the sport! Scooter with a couple monstrous flatheads!

Then we round out the show when our longtime bud and Army Bass Anglers Founder and President – Major Cody Roberson drops in. The Major has some big news regarding the new Army Redfish Anglers division and of course the new show Force on Force which premiered on Sportsman’s Channel a couple weeks ago. It’s gonna be a good one!

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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!

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Dang! We are all over the map this week- but I think that’s a good thing! Off the top we catch up with our longtime buddy, former Texas Ranger great and 3 time MLB All Star hurler Jim “The Amazing Emu” Kern. It’s no coincidence that now was the ideal time to chat with our old friend- being that our Rangers open up the 2012 season this weekend. But more importantly Jim has been a professional hunting and fishing guide since the mid 80s and we talk all things hunting and fishing with this larger than life character!

Then a real treat when Texas Fish and Game Magazine Executive Editor Chester Moore drops in. Chester has been fishing for flounder for over 20 years and has written bucks and countless articles on flounder. He is the authority on Texas flatfish and I am thrilled to pick his brain on how to find these tasty fish and more importantly- how to catch em!

Then we round out the show when Casey Keefer, co-host of Dropped Project Alaska stops by. Dropped just finished airing on Sportsman’s Channel and it was one hell of a ride as Casey and his brother Chris were dropped in Alaska’s Brookes mountain range and had to use their hunting skills to survive on their own for 30 days! Some of the best big game hunting footage you’ll ever see as the brothers harvested caribou and moose to stay alive!

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Got another good one lined up for you guys and gals! We kick it off by talking reds and trout with our longtime friend of the show- Captain Len Girard. The warm weather means the action is heating up along the Texas Coast and Captain Len tells us where he is finding large groups of staging trout and what he’s catching them on.

Then, it’s the return visit of one of the outdoor industry’s most recognizable figures…Buck and Duck Commander Willie Robertson! The Duck Commander crew has a new show set to hit major network television next week and Willie tells us all about Duck Dynasty which airs on A&E- set those DVR’s for Wednesday nights at 9pm CST. Of course we also get will to tell us how this past season was for him. So of course we’ll talk ducks and deer as well.

Right now is one of my favorite times of the year as the South Zone turkey season opens this weekend and the North Zone follows suit on the 31st! Our Texas Parks and Wildlife Turkey Program Leader Jason Hardin is the authority on Texas Turkeys and I am thrilled to have him join us this week as well. Hunting strategy, hot spots around the state, public hunting opportunities and habitat management are just a few of the things we discuss.

We then round out the show by checking in with Warriors Roadtrip Network founder and president- Rusty Pease. The WRN is a great Texas based organization dedicated to taking service men and women, police officers, firefighters and special needs kids into the outdoors. I am thrilled to have Rusty on the show and even more excited to be a part of this great organization!

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So much to get into and so little time to do it! We kick this week off by checking in with one of the finest shooters in the Lone Star State. Pistols, rifles, shotguns… it made no difference to Zavalla, Texas native Dustin Ellerman. You might have seen Dustin take home the $100,000 grand prize as the Season 3 champion of the History Channel’s hit show Top Shot. Not bad for a self taught Christian summer camp director. Dustin doing what he does best.

Then a real treat when The Honkey Tonk Kid- Aaron Watson drops in. One of my favorite Texas singer/songwriters, Aaron is as passionate about the outdoors as he is about his music. He even has a new website devoted to the outdoors: An avid bowhunter, his favorite thing these days is to take his 4 and 5 year old boys into the blind with him. Below you can see him and 5 year old Jake sitting in the deer blind- that’s what it’s all about!

We round things out with some bass fishing talk as the hill country’s Lake Austin has stormed onto the scene as Texas’ premiere sharelunker producing reservoir. Lake Austin has produced 3 of the state’s 5 entrees into the sharelunker program this season. We are thrilled to have Austin area Texas Parks and Wildlife Department District Manager Marcos DeJesus stop in to talk about Lake Austin’s recent ability to produce so many big fish. The most recent sharelunker- entree 528 was caught this month by Landon Glass. TPWD puts ID tags in all lunkers entered into the program. This fish was also caught as sharelunker 481 back in 2010! Time to get on down to Lake Austin and wet a line.

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Man what a great show! We get things rolling when our longtime buddy and Army Bass Anglers Founder and CEO Major Cody Roberson drops in. Army Bass Anglers have some exciting news regarding their new fishing show Force on Force which will begin airing this spring on Sportsman’s Channel. Also, ABA will once again be the honorary lead boat out of next weekend’s Bass Master Classic in Shreveport, LA. And of course, who does the Major see winning this year’s Classic?

Then a real treat when comedian, actor, and tv host Jeff Foxworthy drops in! Jeff has been delivering laughs to millions of folks with his blue collar brand of humor for over 25 years. His other passion, however, happens to be deer hunting…well any hunting really. Jeff loves the management side of hunting and is also an avid conservationist. He has co-hosted outdoor tv shows such as The Bucks of Tecomate and been a frequent guest of various other hunting shows. So what does the future hold? Also, you don’t want to miss him tell the story of his greatest deer camp prank, I about died laughing!

We round out the broadcast when Angie Becker of Tioga Retrievers joins the show. Erin and I sent our chocolate female Belle to Angie last spring. Belle went thru the Basic Gun Dog program and just finished her first season in the field. Impeccable manners in the blind and extremely eager to please, Belle picked up over 200 birds this season…and while that made me proud, we still have work to do. Handling and blind retrieves take alot of work and patience. Angie gives us some off season tips on what we can do to continue developing our hunting dogs. Like I said- Belle was eager to please. This goose is almost as big as her LOL!

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Man what a show! We kick things off with our Cabela’s Corner fishing report with Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. Due to the mild winter the big females are already starting to head for shallow water. Watch out as the next 2 months should be on fire! Heath tells us where to catch ‘em and what to use.

Then our good buddy and Elite Series Pro Kelly Jordon stops by- but we aren’t talking bass with Kelly. Instead, we get into some deer hunting talk as we recap the South Texas deer hunting experience. Also- Kelly talks about taking this trophy 12 pointer with a drop-tine kicker- what a deer!

We follow that up with a real special treat. History Channel’s Swamp People has taken the country by storm. Season 3 premiered this week and we are thrilled to have Troy Landry stop in and talk some gator huntin’ with us! You won’t want to miss what this full blooded Cajun has to say!

We round things out when 1982 BassMaster Classic champ Paul Elias stops by. This Elite Series pro brought the Alabama Rig into the public eye by destroying the field by 17 lbs at an FLW event on Lake Guntersville this past October. Not only did he cash a $100,000 paycheck, but Paul simultaneously revolutionized the sport of bass fishing. We got Paul’s thoughts on B.A.S.S.’ recent decision to ban the A-rig from all of there sanctioned events- including the upcoming BassMaster Classic on the Red River. Also, we want to congratulate Paul as he was recently elected to the Pro Bass Fishing Hall of Fame!

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Anyone who has been following competitive bass fishing this fall knows that the Alabama Rig is responsible for winning just about every tournament out there. The umbrella style, multi lure rig has revolutionized the sport in a matter of months! So much so that BASS is considering banning the bait on the Elite Series and the upcoming Bass Master Classic. Elite Pro Kelly Jordon drops in to talk about the new technique and he also gives us some tips on breaking in a new boat motor. The Alabama Rig:

Then we get into some exotic talk with our old buddy Austin Dempsey of the Star S Ranch. You might recall the anti hunters have been trying to prevent exotic ranches from hunting 3 specific species: dama gazelle, scimitar horned oryx and the addax. These animals are endangered or extinct in their native africa- but exotic ranches have done an amazing job managing breeding herds of these animals in the states. The big loser with the latest news is the animlas themselves. Austin breaks it all down for us. The addax- what an awesome animal!

We round out the broadcast by tackling the zebra mussel issue with Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Inland Fisheries Regional Director Brian Van Zee. Zebra mussels are a highly invasive european species that once established in a lake or river system can cause extreme environmental and economic problems. Sadly enough- zebra mussels already have an established population on Lake Texoma. As anglers and boaters we must take every precaution to prevent their spread to other Texas waterways! Brian tells us how we can help and breaks down the consequences if we fail. A colony of zebra mussels on the bottom of a boat pulled out of an Oklahoma reservoir.

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Lots of great content this week folks! We start things off by checking in with Denton County Game Warden Darren Blackerby. I contacted GW Blackerby after a discouraging morning in the duck marsh…the hunt was great- but unfortunately some of the home owners around this Amry Corps Of Engineers lake didn’t appreciate the fact that we were hunting. So much so that they called the cops who came out and tried to get us to stop hunting even though we were more than double the legal distance from any house, roadway or school. We were so far away in fact, that we couldn’t hear the police honking at us or yelling at us thru a megaphone! Unfortunately, this type of unacceptable and ignorant behavior is becoming more and more common. BUT- we have rights as hunters and if you purchased your Type II permit and obey game laws then there is nothing folks can do to prevent you from hunting. If they do, they could go to jail. Here was the result of that morning- pretty good hunt with our buddy Zane Williams.

Then we put a stamp on the 2011 Texas Whitetail when TPWD Whitetail Deer Program Leader Alan Cain drops in. Alan has his finger squarely on the pulse of our whitetail herd and we get his thoughts on the season that was. How much did the drought really affect antler growth across the board? We also touch on the Managed Lands Deer Permit Program (MLD). This program has been one of the more successful in recent memory and it allows land owners and ranches extra tags and extended seasons to properly manage their deer. Doe harvest is a major part of the program. Also, Alan has some exciting new regarding archery seasons being opened up in Dallas, Collin and Rockwall counties!

We then round out the show when National Wild Turkey Federation- Texas Regional Directer Ray Hood stops by. The NWTF is one of my favorite conservation organizations. Ray has some breaking news to share regarding a new position opening up in the Lone Star State. I know I can’t wait for March to get here!

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This week was a good one ya’ll! Casey Donahew from the Casey Donahew band talks about the new record- Double Wide Dream… and of course that good ‘ol boy is as passionate about deer hunting as he is about music. Casey talks about his place in West Texas and the two management bucks he harvested this season. Casey doing his thing on stage:

Then Clint Montgomery of the Texas Archery Academy drops in. The Texas Archery Academy is a relatively new organization that promotes all aspects of archery in Texas. They have a massive shooting facility in Plano, Texas and are working towards building a strong statewide presence. Clint talks about their goals and events they put on to try and get new folks interested in archery- especially our youth. Here is a snapshot of a recent event aimed at introducing archery to some young Texans:

We then round out the show when TPWD Inland Fisheries Program Manager Carl Kittel stops by. Carl oversees the massive Winter Trout Stocking program each winter. This is a great opportunity for anglers of all ages to get out and catch some rainbow trout. TPWD stocks over 250,000 fish in over 100 locations statewide. Visit the TPWD website to find out when they’ll be stocking in your area.

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This show won’t be short on entertainment that’s for sure! We kick things off by checking in with our old buddy- Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. The first Toyota Sharelunker of the season was caught on Lake Fork over the Christmas Holidays so it’s no secret the big girls are moving up all over the state. Heath breaks down where to find ‘em and how to catch ‘em as we inch closer to the largemouth’s pre-spawn pattern.

Next we check in with Jackie Bibby- AKA ‘The Texas Snakeman’. Jackie has been hunting rattlebugs all over Texas for over 40 years! And on top of that, he holds numerous Guiness World Records for snake handling. Does climbing into a bathtub with over 200 rattlesnakes sound fun to you? Me neither, but you have to be some kind of adrenaline junkie to attempt it. Jackie tells us all about that stunt as well as some of his other incredible feats. Although he’s reached his early 60s, Jackie is showing no signs of slowing down as evidenced by him starring in the Animal Planet’s hit show Rattlesnake Republic. I guarantee you don’t want to miss this one!

We then round out the broadcast when David Sams of Lone Star Outdoor News joins us to talk whitetails- specifically how to age a buck in the field. David has amassed a lifetime of deer hunting knowledge and I was thrilled to pick his brain prior to my South Texas management hunt. What indicators does he look for when trying to gauge whether a buck is in his prime or on the downslope of his life and therefore a solid management buck? David with a great management buck of his own from last season:

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We kick off the New Years Day edition by checking in with Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Carter Smith. Our state park system needs our help and has issued a 4.9 million dollar plea for help. With budget cuts and the extreme drought of 2011, the state park system simply didn’t generate enough revenue. TPWD has come up with a 3 fold plan of action and Carter jumps on to talk about how we can help get this thing back on track.

Then we check in with Andrew Watson of Highland Village. Last week, Andrew landed the first Toyota Sharelunker of the 2011-2012 season while crappie fishing with his dad. The 13.51 lb Lake Fork monster was picked up by Dave Campbell and taken back to the Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Andrew actually hooked this largemouth 3 times before getting her in the boat. He tells us all about her breaking him off multiple times before he landed the fish of a lifetime!

Then we are joined by Dallas Safari Club President Ben Carter. Out of the Wild is the weekend at the Dallas Convention Center. DSC convention week is always one of my favorite weeks of the year! Over 800 outfitters, guides, guns and optics makers from all over the globe will converge in Texas this Thursday-Sunday for the world’s premiere outdoor convention. Ben talks about the week’s festivities including some new things for this year’s convention.

Then, with my South Texas deer hunt only one week away- I figured we should talk to someone who hunts the Brush Country on a regular basis. And our old buddy and Elite Series Pro Kelly Jordon fits the bill perfectly! Kelly has been hunting Webb Country for over a decade and that happens to be the same county I will be hunting in. Kelly sheds some light on how hunting the Brush Country is different from hunting other regions of our state. I hope I am fortunate to take a nice management buck- which in South Texas could be something similiar to this 7 1/2 year 137 inch 8 pt KJ harvested last season! LOL. Only in South Texas can this be considered a cull buck- what a monster!

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This week we have some great new stuff and also a few classics as we reflect on some of the shows best moments of 2011. Off the top though we were joined by deer hunter Richard Lomas of West Salem, Illinois. Two weeks ago, Richard was on the way to his blind for the 2nd part of the Illinois shotgun season when he stumbled across the deer of a lifetime. His 30 pt no fence buck was actually an antlered doe! He gives us all the details about that day and a hunt he will never forget.

Then a real treat when we replay the finest moments from our latest interview with Phil ‘The Duck Commander’ Roberson. We get this old timer’s thoughts on everything from lead vs steel shot to the birth of his children. Good stuff as always with the Duck Commander.

Next we rediscover some of the magic that Uncle Ted Nugent brings everytime he joins the show. You never know what he is going to say- but I guarantee you it will be opinionated and from the heart! Never short on words- Uncle Ted always provides solid radio gold! Ted will hunt anything with an open season- Hope ya enjoy one of my favorite chats from 2011!

We then round things out when our good bud Rob Griffin of Southern Deer Stands stops by. We had such a great time last year and so many of ya’ll particpated that we decided to run it back and for our 2nd Annual Southern Deer Stands Deer Blind Contest! In Texas, we are all passionate about whitetails and our deer blinds are a major part of that. We want you to send in a photo and paragraph write up about why your deer blind is special. Maybe you built it with your son or grandson, maybe your wife shot her first deer out of it this fall…whatever the case we want you to have a chance to win one of our 4 great categories/prize packages.

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So next week I am going on a public draw hunt in the Hill Country State Natural Area- this got me thinking, what if I shoot a wall hanger on day one of our 4 day hunt? What am I going to do with that animal if I want a full shoulder mount? After field dressing, I have always gone straight to the taxidermist. So I called my budy Cory Larson of DRT Wild Life Studios to find out what he would do in that situation. Cory gives us some tips and with mounts like this one- I would say he knows his stuff:

Then a special treat when a couple of good ‘ol Texas gals drop in- Julie and Christie of A&E’s hit show Lady Hoggers! As professional hog hunters, this pair isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Julie and Christie are passionate about hog hunting and they train their own dogs. Too bad all hog doggers don’t look this good doing it! Set those DVR’s for 9pm Central!

We then round out the show by talking some quail and ducks with Ed Micaletti and Mike Gee of the Wingsport Depot. Based in Bowie, Texas The Wingsport Depot has come on board the show as our December Photo of the Month sponsor and the guys have donated a hunt for this month’s prize and our December winner will have the option to choose between a guided quail or duck hunt for two hunters! Should be a lot of fun and I am looking foward to talking some wingshooting with Mike and Ed. Recent photo from their quail ranch:

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What a show this one was! We got the ball rolling when Dr. James Kroll dropped in for Part II of our miniseries on Whitetail Management During Drought. What should you shoot? When should you shoot them? What about deer and humans increasing contact…will they be viewed as a nuisance in the same way racoons and coyotes are? Great stuff as always with Dr. Deer himself!

Then with Pheasant season upon us I was thrilled to have TPWD Biolgist Todd Montandon join us. Todd handles all the pheasant data for Texas. Todd tells us what to expect this season and mentions a couple counties that are holding the most birds. While the of the drought of 2011 will cause it to be a poor year across the board- there are still some mature birds out there as Maverick found out on our trip last weekend!

If ya like Texas country- then you probably have at least one Kevin Fowler record. As one would expect Kevin’s latest record Chippin’ Away is full of good timin’, honky tonkin’ Texas tunes. But even with a full tour schedule promoting the new album- Kevin found some time to sneak away and drop this 180″ monster! We talk some music and a lotta hunting with one of the greats.

We then round out the show with a very special guest when Duck G of G&H Decoys stops by. Duck G is a 3rd generation owner of G&H, which was started by his grandfather in 1934. Times have changed, decoys have changed. But the folks at G & H haven’t. They’re still American made and family owned and operated. Duck G talks about the evolution of the sport and how G&H has been able to stand the test of time. G&H has proven to be the must reliable and realistic decoys I have found as a dedicated waterfowler. Three generations in the family business (below):

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Wow so much to cover this week and so little time to do it! If you haven’t heard the liberal tree huggin’ vegan hypocrites at PETA recently sent a letter to the mayor of Turkey, Texas (home of Bob Wills). PETA asked that Turkey rename it’s city ‘Tofurkey’ for Thanksgiving Day. So just to prove once again how idiotic these folks are…I called PETA and asked for an interview- posing as a radio show host who supports their backwards views. I think you will find peering into the soul of their organization both funny and sad.

Then we get into some serious blood tracking talk when we are joined by Rod Buvens and Courtney Farris of the National Lacy Dog Association. Today it is illegal to use blood tracking dogs in 22 East, Texas counties. It’s my belief that the ethical hunter does everything in his power to recover a wounded or dying animal. And preventing the use of blood tracking dogs on a lead makes no sense at all. The legislation is outdated and needs to be changed. Rod and Courtney are spearheading that effort. The couple also owns two lacy dogs- a versatile working breed that originated right here in Texas. They make excellent blood trackers, hog dogs, cattle dogs and love working. One of their lacy’s hot on the trail of an archery whitetail.

Next we talk waterfowl with Delta Waterfowl’s Regional Director Travis Sheridan. Travis talks about Delta’s work in Texas as well as upcoming events with the Ft. Worth and College Station Chapters. If you are passionate about waterfowling I encourage you to get involved with a local chapter. Delta turned 100 years old in 2011 and their goal is to ensure that full skies fill the marshes for future generations. One of their projects is getting kids involved with building wood duck boxes such as this one:

We cap things off by checking in with our old friend Captain Len Girard. Captain Len joined us live from the Upper Laguna Madre this week for our coastal fishing report. The reds and flounder are staging for their December and they are hungry! Capt Len breaks down where he is finding them and what he’s using. Gulf coast flounder is one of my absolute favorite dishes. It’s gonna be a great show!

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We kick off this week’s show with a very special guest when GoDaddy.com founder and CEO Bob Parsons drops in. Not only is Bob one of the most successful businessmen in the world, but he also is longtime outdoorsmen who is extremely passionate about big game hunting. Last year Bob came under fire for harvesting a problem elephant in Zimbabwe. Elephants are overpopulating Zimbabwe and that causes a major problem for the villages who rely on agriculture to survive. Not only did Bob remove the problem but he also helped feed three villages with this kill. You tell me who the real humanitarian is PETA.

Then we get serious about our state’s rapidly declining quail population when Quail-Tech Alliance founder and chairman Charles Hodges joins us in studio. Founded in 2008, the Quail-Tech alliance has a ranch in over 30 west Texas counties that are dedicated to helping the bobwhite rebound. However, the 2011-2012 season is a critical one and Charles explains the importance of a new management strategy all of us quail hunters should adopt this season. One of the Alliance’s many projects- releasing birds back into the wild such as the banded chick below.

Then we round things out when Ducks Unlimited Dallas’ CO-chairman Keith McDonald joins us. The Dallas chapter’s 2011 banquet is coming up on November 16th and Keith talks about some of the great raffle and both live and silent auction items that will be featured that night. Including a duck hunt with Texas Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland! There are a few tickets left and we will give away a $200 couples ticket for the event live on the show Saturday morning. It’s thru local chapter efforts across the country that DU raises the funds to keep images like the one below happening. Ensuring there are full skies for future generations is what it’s all about!

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What a great lineup for this week! As most of you bowhunters are probably aware by now, a 194 inch Hopkins County whitetail was taken down on opening morning of archery season. Kyle Koon of Sulpher Springs, TX watched this buck grow up for 4 years before decided to harvest him as a monstrous 4 1/2 year old this fall. This buck will shatter the Hopkins County record and also is a testament to what sound management practices can do. The deer was taken on a 500 acre low fence property. Kyle tells us all about that special morning as well as some of his management philosophies. Here is a trail cam pic of the buck and Kyle with his trophy on opening morning.

Then another special guest drops by to talk whitetail management- Jack McElroy of Oasis Wildlife Water Systems. Oasis is a relatively new company specializing in providing a reliable water source for the wildlife on your ranch and lease. Jack saw a need to get water to his deer on his Hill Country lease and the result was the creation of Oasis. Inspired by the Texas deer hunter for the Texas deer hunter.

We then round things out when one of my favorite singer/songwriters joins us. The pride of the Canadian Rockies, it’s the great Corb Lund. Corb grew up hunting and fishing his family ranch in some of the most rugged land in North America. His family owned a cattle ranch and Corb is no stranger to rodeoing and steer wrestling. So how did a Rocky Mountain cowboy start making some of the best Texas style music around? Corb tells all. Should be a good un ya’ll!

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We start off by checking in with Sundance Ranch’s Wade Burton. Sundance Ranch is a small Hill Country Equine Community. Properties in this rural community are between 2 and 5 acres and bowhunting has long been an acceptable method used to help control their ever increasing deer population. With one deer for every 3 acres, things have gotten out of control. The deer have become an nuisance but there is a small faction of community members who want the bowhunting to stop and one member is suing to try to end bowhunting completely. Wade discusses the problems deer are causing and why bowhunting needs to continue at Sundance Ranch. The overall health of the herd is suffering and automobile accidents are increasing. Situations like the one below aren’t good for us or the deer:

The we are joined by longtime Texas outdoor writer Bob Hood. Bob has been goose hunting in Texas for 42 years and his recent article Ghosts of Goose Hunts Past – was featured in the latest Texas Fish and Game Magazine. Things have changed significantly over 4 decades and Bob has seen and done it all. From the rice fields of the Katy Prarie to the peanut fields of West Texas he has experienced the highs and lows of Texas goose hunting. Are things better now than they were back then- when a decoy spread consisted of a bunch of rags? Bob tells it all. Below is South Texas goose hunting pioneer Marvin Tyler, credited for beginning the rag decoy craze back in the 1960s.

We then round things out by talking water easements when Texas Nature Conservancy State Director Laura Huffman stops by. In November, Proposition H will be voted on by the legislature. This important bill offers Texas landowners tax breaks for allowing water on their property to be available for public use. And with 96% of our state privately owned- it’s important for us to start thinking about alternative water sources for both us and our fish and wildlife such as the private wetland seen below.

The we talk big bass, redfish and some urban fishing with pro angler Jen Carroll. Jen is passionate about getting kids and women involved in fishing and the great outdoors. She fished the women’s Bassmaster Circuit for three years before it shut down. How many of you fellas can beat a PB 11 lb largemouth? I know I can’t!

Then a real treat for all you football fans out there as Dallas Cowboy’s safety Gerald Sensabaugh drops in. The 2-2 Cowboys are on a bye this week and I guarantee ya that means Gerald is on the water somewhere enjoying his other passion in life. We talk a little football and a whole lotta fishing. Gerald doing what he does on the gridiron and on the water:

We round out the show by checking in with Lone Star Ag Credit’s Mike Shelley. It’s all of our dreams to one day own our own piece of land to hunt and fish on. Mike explains how Lone Star Ag Credit can make that dream a reality. This is one show you don’t want to miss!

Then a very special treat when the beautiful Diamond Poole joins us. Diamond is a successful swimsuit, lingerie and fitness model who also plays full tackle football for the Dallas Diamonds. But there is a whole lot more to her story…up until about a year ago, Diamond was a lifelong PETA supporter, even donating part of her earnings each month to their effort!!! She thought all of us hunters were just a bunch ignorant rednecks anxious to kill the first thing that walked by. Luckily, she fell for a nice southern gentlemen who eventually showed her the light about what hunting truly is. You won’t want to miss her fascinating story as Diamond now has a whole mess of kills under her belt – including this trophy aoudad from this summer.

We round out the show by checking in with everybody’s favorite bass fishing guide- Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. Cooler weather means big bass are chasing shad back to shallow water. Heath tells us where to find ‘em and what to use.

Wow- what a stellar lineup this week. It’s been about a year since Uncle Ted was on with us. Apparently, that is way too long…because Ted has a heck of a lot to say! Ted wants some Texas hunting regulations changed regarding Migratory Game Birds and High Fence Hunting. I have to admit- I agree with what he has to say. Also, @ 63 years old, how in the world is Ted still rockin’ out like it’s 1977? The man simply never stops going! You won’t want to miss this one.

Then former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams stops by. You might have seen it by now, but if not be sure to check out the video below. It’s sheer genious and will no doubt make ya laugh. Roger is currently on the campaign trail as he is running for Congress in 2012. Roger is a lifelong Texan and represents the small business owner. I know I have his back as do most of our listeners.

We round things out with our old buddy Captain Len Girard. The report along the coast just gets better and better as redfish, trout and black drum are on fire!!! Fishing from Corpus Christi Bay past the Land Cut, Len gives us the low down on where to catch ‘em and what they are biting. Captain Len with a monster.

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We start things off with Texas Fish and Game Magazine’s John Felsher. His latest article “Bass Tactics for Redfish” breaks down the similarities between freshwater bassin’ and saltwater reds. Bass fisherman don’t need to restock their tackle boxes when they head to the coast- just go with what ya got. John talks about some of his favorite bass baits that redfish can’t resist. John with a nice bull red caught on a spinnerbait:

We keep it coastal with our next guest as Captain Len Girard makes a return visit to the show. Len has the reds, trout and flounder bite down to a science from Corpus Christi Bay all the way up to the Land Cut. But right now, the Upper Laguna Madre is on fire, and Len is reeling in the big reds. He tells us where to find ‘em and what their biting.

We round out the broadcast with a real treat as former TPWD employee and longtime freelance outdoor writer John Jefferson joins the program. John’s latest piece “Golden Age of State Parks, How Texas Acquired a Passel of Iconic Parklands” graced the cover of the August edition of TPWD Magazine. The Lone Star State has over 600,000 acres of state park land. But it was the effort and vision of a few conservationists who helped pave the way for our great state park system. The 25 year Golden Age from 1963 to 1988 saw over sixty state parks added to the system. You may recognize names like Governor John Connally, Texas Tech’s John Gosdin and Senator Don Kennard. John talks about the article and reflects on some of those who paved the way for the state park system that hundreds of thousands of Texas hunters, hikers, campers and anglers enjoy each year.

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We start things off by checking in with Texas Parks and Wildlife Whitetail Program Leader Alan Cain. This drought is wearing us thin across the state, but it’s still our responsibility to manage the resources we do have- and everyone knows that whitetails are a precious resource in Texas. So Alan sheds some light on management philosophies folks should put into place during extreme drought conditions. Should you be shooting more does, which if any bucks should you target? Also, cattle ranching has long been king in Texas and deer and cows obviously share the same habitat- so what can you do to make sure both have the nutrition they need?

Then we are going to get into something that gets my blood boiling. If you are unaware, the Obama Administration recently implemented legislation that requires law abiding Texans to register shotguns and rifles used for hunting if you buy more than one in a five day period. This blatant violation of the constitution was not approved by Congress- instead it was shoehorned in thru the backdoor. Luckily, the NRA has filed a lawsuit against the adminstration and the ATF. NRA Director of Legislative Action Chris Cox joins us to breakdown the entire situation. Chris has some hot opinions and I am looking foward to hearing what he has to say. But the bottom line is that gun registration is unconstitutional and this administration has overstepped their bounds. Chris doing what he does best:

We then round out the broadcast with a very special guest, when Cleveland, TX native Joe Williams drops in to talk alligator gars with us. Joe has been pursuing these prehistoric freshwater beasts for decades and all that time on the water paid off big this year as he has landed two state record quality fish in a span over just a couple months. Here is Joe with the actual rod and reel state record catch and release fish. Measured over 7 ft 4 inches! And the best part? She’s still out there swimming around so that someone else might have the chance to catch her.

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Its gonna be a dang good one! We start off by talking reds, trout and flounder with our good buddy Captain Len Girard. Fishing from Corpus Christi Bay, thru the Upper Laguna Madre thru Baffin Bay and up to the Land Cut- Captain Len covers alot of water and has the specifics on where the fish are and what they are biting.

Then, larger than life personality and lifelong fisherman Bill Dance drops in to talk summertime crappie techniques with us. We are all pros when the crappie are spawning, but what about when they move back out into deeper water. Bill breaks what to look for when seeking schools of slabs during the heat of the summer- then he tells us how he catches them.

Renown big game hunter, conservationist and TV show host Jim Shockey makes his return to the show. Jim has been up to his usual tricks of traveling the globe harvesting big game animals and we get him to talk about some of his latest adventures from ram hunting in Iran to his daughter Eva’s first black bear hunt.

Jim also dives into the importance of conservation organizations such as DU, SCI, DSC and the Big Horn Sheep Society. Everyone of us needs to support at least one conservation organization. Also, how does Jim forsee our huge national debt affecting hunters and outdoorsmen in the future?

A true world travler, Jim is no stranger to hunting in Texas.

We then wrap up our miniseries “The Progression of A Gun Dog” when Tioga Retreiver’s Angie Becker drops in. Most of ya’ll know that my 10 month old female lab Belle has been with Angie for the past three months as she was enrolled in the Basic Gun Dog Program.

This is the third and final installment of the series as we wrap up and review how things went for Belle during her training program. Angie also talks about the importance of repitition and consistency once your dog is home from training. Afterall, it’s expensive and we want our 4 legged hunting buddies to remember all the stuff they learned while away :duckpuncher:

Belle and I even ran in our first hunt test a couple weeks ago and while we didn’t get her junior title we still had a heck of a good time and it was a great learning experience for us both.

Belle in action at the recent hunt test in Ravenna, TX.

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This week we start off by visiting with our old buddy- Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. My dad and I had the pleasure of fishing with Heath on Monday. It was a humbling experience for us both! Heath was whackin’ em all day- but the bite was so subtle that dad and I were having a heck of a time knowing when a fish actually picked up the bait. It was still a great day on the water as I did manage to catch my first Lake Fork largemouth. Heath proved to be a great and patient teacher. We get into what worked and what didn’t and a whole lot more. Heath did landthe biggest bass I have ever seen in person- 8 lbs easy!

We then check in with Tioga Retrievers’ Angie Becker for Part II of our mini-series “The Progression of a Gun Dog“. My 9 month old female- Belle, has two months of Basic Gun Dog training under her belt and we’ll find out how she is coming along. With force fetch, delivery to hand and steadying already taken care of, what will she be working on during the last month of her training? If you are thinking about adding a retriever to the family then this is something you don’t want to miss. Belle doing work:

We round out the show by chatting with Ducks Unlimited’s Director of Governmental Affairs- Scott Sutherland. Scott has his finger squarely on the pulse of what is going in Washington D.C., and he has some great news to share with all waterfowlers as the federal government just announced they will be contributing 37.5 million dollars to NAWCA (North American Wetlands Conservation Act) in 2011. There was a real possibility that NAWCA was going to be completely shut out of federal funding in 2011 and with private donations matching federal dollars to the tune of 4 to 1 – this was set to be a loss of about 120 million dollars towards watefowl conservation in 2011. Since 1995, NAWCA related projects have seen over 110 million dollars go towards projects in Texas alone! Without this program scenes like the one below would become less and less common:

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Most of us don’t have any state record fish to our names, much less three of ‘em. But three is how many angler Charles Dewey has after landing a state record Rio Grande Cichlid a couple weeks ago. Charles stops by to talk about his 1.87 lb monster he caught using a pole and line method on Lake Dunlap outside of New Braunfels.

Then one of Texas’ great singer/songwriters joins us live in studio. Guthrie Kennard has been everywhere and played with just about everyone. His tune ‘Catfish Fishin’ is one of the greatest fishing songs ever written. Guthrie will play it for us as well as discuss growing up on a river in the 1950′s. It was definitely a different time and way of life.

We round out the show by checking in with Texas Ranger first baseman Mitch Moreland. Mitch joined me on a spring turkey hunt with Silver Creek Guide Service. A lifelong waterfowler and deer hunter, Mitch was able to bag his first spring gobbler on this hunt. A trophy tom with a 9 1/2 inch beard! Not a bad way to spend an off day before heading on a 10 day road trip.

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This week we start things off by talking big bass with our very own Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. Big bass are beginning to spawn all over our state and Heath is a master at getting those huge females to strike while on their nest. From now until the end of May is the best time to catch a monster largemouth and Heath might just have the tip that helps you land that fish of a lifetime!

Waterfowl season may have come and gone but ya’ll know I’m always up for talkin’ ducks and our good buddy Charles Smith of Cadence Duck Calls drops in to do just that. Made right here in Texas, Cadence is hands down the best call I have ever blown. How did Charles get started in the industry and what seperates these Texas made calls from the competition? I might even blow my Cadence ‘Closer’ on the air and let Charles critique me.

Charles after a morning in the marsh

We then round out the broadcast with one of my favorite singer/songwriters - Dustin Perkins. Besides being an up and comer on the Texas music scene, Dustin is also and avid outdoorsman. I knew I had to get him on the show when minutes after meeting he took his phone out and started showing me pictures of dead animals and full stringers of fish! My kinda fella alright. Anyway, we’ll talk a little huntin and fishin’ and of course Dustin will play a few tunes for us as well.

This week’s show recaps one of the most memorable outdoor experiences of my life. Harvesting a feral hog with dogs and a blade has long been on my bucket list. Well I can cross it off after hunting with my buddy Chris Williams of GoHogDog. We were able to harvest two hogs and I had the honor of dispatching them. The dogs were by far the most memorable aspect of the hunt however as each one had their own personality and their own specific job to do in order to contribute to the team effort. Made a lot of new friends that day and can’t wait to go hunting with them again. We recap the whole experience with Chris during this week’s broadcast.

Hog #2 was a 150 lb boar with decent cutters.

We also check in with Dr. Dale Rollins from the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch. This was supposed to be a banner year for Texas quail hunters after the wet 2010 spring. But things didn’t pan out that way and Dr. Rollins is searching for answers. Could disease be responsible for the continued decline in Texas bobwhite populations? Dr. Rollins thinks its something that needs to be seriously considered.

Lastly we are joined by Army Bass Anglers founder Major Cody Roberson. Major Roberson and ABA once again had the honor of leading the ceremonial launch at the Bassmaster Classic and he has a few funny stories to share with us. ABA also has a ton of stuff on TV right now so be sure to check out the World Fishing Network and Versus to be sure you don’t miss ABA in action.

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!

We are covering a lot of ground this week. Off the top we will get into some serious redfish talk with longtime Coastal Bend fishing guide Pat Hunt. Pat is a Vietnam Veteran, who has been fishing Corpus Christi Bay and the surrounding area since the 1950′s. The bull reds are running and we are going to find out their current pattern.

Then we are joined by Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Todd Staples. Commissioner Staples, a native of Palestine, TX grew up in a farming/ranching family where hunting and fishing were just a way of life. Always looking out for the Texas farmer and rancher- Commissioner Staples declared October “Get the Hog Outta Texas” month. Feral Hogs cause 400 million dollars in damage to Texans annually and Commissioner Staples has challenged us all to do our part and smoke as many hogs as we can. Lets see some more pictures like this one!

Then we will check in with American Hunter Magazine field editor Bill Winke. Bill recently conducted a study regarding whitetail deer “jumping” the sound of a bow string. His article “The Science of String Jumping”, dives headfirst into where you should place your shot on an alert deer and at what distance. Being a first year bowhunter myself, I found the article very informative and I am looking foward to finding out what his research concluded. Bill with a trophy bow kill.

Lastly, angler Mike Kernan drops in to recap the first ever Lone Star Series season. He and his partner Chris Tilton captured the Lone Star Series Championship on Lake Lewisville last weekend and won a brand new Nissan Titan for their efforts. Mike is fishing the Central Open event on Texoma this weekend and if the chips fall perfectly he could end up with an invitation to fish the 2011 Bass Master Classic as well as fish the Elite Series. Mike fishes lakes all over Texas and gives us some insight on October bass patterns in the Lone Star State.

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!

Lots of great stuff planned for this week. We visit with TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Program Director Robin Reichers regarding the reopening of the red snapper season in October. Rumor has it that the Gulf Coast Fishery Management Council will reopen the red snapper season- weekends only- for the month of October. The hope is to give fishing guides, hotels, restaurants and so many others who were devestated by the Deep Water Horizon explosion this summer, the chance to make up for some of the business they lost as a result of the catastrophe.

Then we sit down and talk with the epitome of an outdoor couple- Grapevine Texas’ own Cam and Sam Ketchersid- AKA Team Lonestar from the Campbell Outdoor Challenge which airs on Versus. Cam and Sam are in their 2nd year of filming their hunts and competing on this show. With feral hogs, Eastern Turkeys, antelope all already out of the way…Cam and Sam are in 2nd place heading into the final event- The Illinois Whitetail Challenge. With $50,000 on the line, we are pulling for them to bring the title back home to Texas. Anyway, we will pick their brains about everything having to do with filming a hunt.

Sam showing off her trophy South Dakota antelope. Cam documented the whole thing on film.

Also, Army Bass Anglers founder- Major Cody Roberson- makes his return to the show to talk about some major news regarding Army Bass Anglers. A couple of new TV shows might just be in the works and I am looking foward to hearing all about it. You aren’t gonna want to miss it!

When people think of bass fishing in Texas, one lake stands above the rest. Yep I am talking about Lake Fork here ya’ll. Other lakes (like O.H. Ivie last season) have enjoyed tempory success over the years. But none have stood the test of time like Fork. So this morning we’ll talk with my buddy and longtime Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. Heath has been fishing Fork for 15 year and he will explain the biological reasons why Fork continually produces so many big fish. The stats don’t lie- Fork has produced 246 of the 504 registered sharelunkers caught in Texas! That is just under 50% !!! Heath also has the fish patterned to a science so you just may learn something if you are interested in fishing Lake Fork.

With the bow season opener only a couple weeks away, I thought we should probably talk with the president of an organization that is always working to protect our rights as Texas bowhunters. So I am thrilled that Lone Star Bowhunters Association President Jack Jetton will join the program. The LSBA has been protecting and advocating for our rights since the 1970′s. Who do ya think got us our archery only season? Yep it was the LSBA. With over 30 years of bowhunting experience we can learn a lot from Jack. He even serves on the Whitetail Advisory Council to TPWD. Needless to say I am thrilled to have Jack as a guest.

Last year’s buck Jack harvested with traditional equipment. A nice 9pt.

Hunters and outdoorsmen are always looking for ways to better hide themselves for their prey. So obviously camoflauge is very important to us and their are literally hundreds of brands and patterns to choose from out there. But only one was designed specifically for Texas hunters by a Texas hunter. Game Guard is entering their 9th hunting season and has gained a pretty loyal following. But how did this Texas based and family owned business get going? Game Guard’s founder/owner Craig Smith drops in to talk about why he formed this great company. What kind of obstacles did he face starting out in the cut throat camoflauge industry? We get to the bottom of all that and what seperates Game Guard from other camo patterns. I am proud to wear it when I am in the field.

Gonna be another great ride this week. First we visit with Texas State Rifle Association President Donald Strickland. The TSRA is the equivalent of the NRA on a state level. They are continually hard at work protecting our rights in Austin. I am proud to be a member of TSRA but was appalled to find out how many Texans support the organization with me. Take a listen, you might just hear something you like.

Then one of my favorite singer/songwriters and East Texas native Brandon Rhyder drops in to talk a little music and a whole lot of outdoors. Brandon truly is one of our finest lyrical story tellers and the depth of his music is unrivaled by many of today’s artists. Brandon actually wrote “Freeze Frame Time” while dove hunting in a sun flower field back in 2004. Lookin’ forward to getting into that and a whole lot more!

Then one of the show’s oldest friends- Delta Waterfowl Senior Vice President John Devney- will stop by to discuss the fall migration. With the early teal opener on Saturday, I am sure we will get as much info on our blue winged quarry that we possibly can. Also, 2 pintails in the Central Flyway??? Tune in to find out.

This week is gonna be great! First we visit with Anitra Hendricks of The Texas Association of Community Action Agencies (TAACA). Anitra oversees the hugely successful Hunters For The Hungry program. Hunters for the Hungry feeds those less fortunate who might be a little down on their luck… And they do this with your harvested deer! Hundreds of participating game processors throughout the state that will process deer for a discounted rate (which the hunter can then use as a tax write off), and then donate the meat to the Hunters for the Hungry program.

Then we’ll visit with Gordon Melton. Gordon founded an organization that I am a big fan of- Hunting With Soldiers. Gordon’s vision was to take returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq on hunts at his place in Paducah, TX. A veteran himself, Gordon realized that these soldiers needed a sanctuary that no amount of prescription medication could provide, and that is why Hunting With Soldiers was formed. It’s a small token of appreciation for those who have been willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice. I am pumped to visit with Gordon about every aspect of Hunting With Soldiers.

Here is Gordon with the first Veteran that went hunting last year. The soldier was even presented with a handcrafted knife made by Godley, TX native Tony Prater Sr.

Lastly, we will talk with Will Scott of the Star-S-Ranch. Will has been managing his Hill Country whitetail herd for 15 years now and has a lot of experience and information to share with those of us who own land or have a lease. While the Star-S-Ranch is a big time hunting ranch, philosophies on growing big deer and maintaining a healthy herd are very similiar to what can do on your own place. Will is an expert on whitetails and is also a big time hunter and conservationist. I have been to the ranch and seen the deer firsthand. Pretty impressive!

This week we have another great show planned for ya. We will visit with TPWD’s Mule Deer and Pronghorn Antelope Program Leader Shawn Gray. He answers all our questions regarding both species populations, regulations, harvest goals and much more. Think Antler Restrictions for mulies have been discussed by TPWD? We are gonna find out!

Then we visit with Predator University’s Tony Tebbe. Tony’s forte is hunting coyotes- but he has upped the anti by adding another element to the equation. His dog Gunner goes out and picks fights with yotes and then turns tail and lures them into rifle range for Tony and his clients. Coyote Decoy Dogs??? Yep, they are pretty cool and Gunner is the best of the best. We talk training, dangers associated with sending your best bud out to pick a fight with a deadly predator, and other advantages associated with hunting predators with a good dog.

Then we also visit with Team Catfish’s Cody Mullennix. Cody is the former World Record Holder and current Texas record holder for Blue Catfish on rod and reel. His 2004 Texoma blue cat tipped the scales and 121 lbs 8 oz !!! Now that is a monster! We talk about that day as well as catching big blues in the summertime heat. Here is Cody with the former world record blue cat after it was successfully transplanted to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens:

Well, there isn’t much of a debate when it comes to who is the planet’s best bass angler. With 5 Angler of the Year titles and 3 BassMaster Classic Championships Kevin Van Dam is the world’s best. Kevin stops by for a visit and talks about his love for fishing as well as hunting!

What does Kevin look for first when pre-fishing? How does he draw large spawning females off their beds and what bait would he choose if stranded on an island? All that and much more with KVD !!!

Also, for you Texas waterfowlers- Delta Waterfowl’s Director of Coservation Programs Joel Brice talks about Delta’s hands on approach to waterfowl conservation- Predator Control. With an ever changing landscape dominated by farmland in the Prarie Pothole Region, it has become necessary to take out one animal to ensure the survival of another.

This program directly benefits the Texas waterfowler- since Delta is based in the Central Flyway’s northern most state North Dakota. Predator control means more ducks for us in the Central Flyway’s southern most state- TEXAS!!! This week we go in depth into the philosophy of predator control with one of the world’s oldest and most deicated conservation organizations.

We dive in deep with Texas Agrilife Wildlife Specialist Dr. Billy Higgenbotham. We talk food plot and feeder ratios in respect to property size. What food plot will grow best in your region of the state? How long should you continue to feed corn after deer season ends? We cover that and so much more. Dr. Higgenbotham provides the most in depth insight on how to be a good land steward and properly manage your deer herd.

Also, Texas Country music artist and avid outdoorsman Charlie Robison pops in for a visit. Charlie is hosting the first ever Bay Bash and Redfish Round-up which goes down July 4th weekend in Rockport. A weekend of great fishing and even better music as Charlie, Roger Creager, Band of Heathens, Brandon Rhyder and many others take the stage. It’s gonna be a good one!

Well, I think it’s going to be another great show. The Outdoor Channel’s Lee and Tiffany Lakosky join the program and we go into detail on a variety of subjects. Obviously, we talk whitetails, and how much work it requires to manage 6,000 acres and 600 acres of food plots. Also, does Tiff gut her own deer, how did Lee get her hooked on smoking monster whitetails? Who has the best deer to date and much more! Be sure to check it out as well as The Crush With Lee and Tiffany which airs 4 times a week on the Outdoor Channel.

Also, one of my favorite musicians and life long outdoorsman Max Stalling stops in to talk about growing up in Zavala County. Hunting was more than recreation in his South Texas upbringing. Max’s father hunted and fished to put food on the table for his 6 children. Some of Max’s fondest memories are growing up crappie fishing on the Nueces River. Also, Max has a new record coming out August 17th !!! So we’ll get the scoop on that as well.

Well, if you don’t know who Bill Dance is, you have either been living under a rock for the past 40 years or you are just getting into the outdoors. If it’s the latter, then welcome aboard. If it’s the former…well then welcome back I guess. Anyway, it’s not everyday that a living legend joins the show so be sure to check out the podcast as Bill talks about the good old days.

With 3 B.A.S.S. AOY titles to his credit, does Bill ever regret leaving the tournament life so early? Who is his all time fantasy fishing team? Why does he always have on that University of Texas hat??? And so much more!

Also, If you grew up a pro baseball fan in the late 1970′s – early 1980′s then you know who Jim “The Amazing Emu” Kern is. He made three MLB All Star teams as a reliever including ’79 with our Texas Rangers in a season which he posted 29 saves, 13 wins and a 1.57 ERA…how the heck???

Well, the Amazing Emu has been outfitting and guiding for the past 23 years from Texas, to Alaska, Africa, South America and as Roger Creager puts it “back home to Texas again”. Emu Outfitters is based outta Fort Worth and we talk a little baseball and a lot of hunting with Ranger great Jim Kern!

It’s going to be a good one! We talk striper fishing with Brian Pritchard of Stripers Inc. Then Curtis Bishop of Lane Aviation stops by. Why have Curtis on you may ask??? Because he gets paid to gun down feral hogs out of a helicopter!!! That is bad to the bone- I know I want to try it. How many hogs has he killed in one day? Were going to find out for sure.

And we also visit with one of the industry’s most respected gun dog trainers- Tom Dokken. He has owned and operated his own kennel for over 35 years and is also the inventor of the Deadfowl Trainer. If you have a retriever- chances are you have a Deadfowl. It’s the foam bodied dummy with the realistic head and feet. I know my lab won’t go to the lake without his.

It’s gonna be a lot of fun!

This week Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith (the head of the entire department) joins the program. How will Govenor Perry’s proposed 25 million dollar TPWD budget cut affect the Texas Sportsman? What does he consider TPWD’s greatest success/failure in his tenure? What is his favorite part about his job?

Also joining the show is the Executive Director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America- Glen Bentley. The PVA is hosting the Texas Round Up Bass Tournament coming up on Lake Ray Hubbard. I am proud to have a disabled veteran such as Glen and the rest of the PVA as part of the show.

State Representative Sid Miller of Stephenville, drafted the 2009 legislation that would have allowed land owners to sell helicopter hog hunts. Unfortunately, the session ended before the bill could be voted on. We will discuss the current feral hog situation and whether or not he plans to try to get the bill passed in next January’s session.

Also, for any of you who read Field and Stream I was able to track down the author of the article “Obama Inaction” which appeared in the March issue of F&S. Bob Marshall is the conservation editor of the magazine and the outdoor editor of The New Orleans Time Picayune.

The article basically rips Obama for promising us (sportsmen) that he would do certain things for us and conservation. So far a board of experts hasn’t given Obama passing grades and Bob tells us why.

Cable also recaps his awesome opening weekend turkey hunting experience at the beautiful Star S Ranch!

Cable and Ted Nugent delve into a wide array of topics including: The 2nd Amendment , President Obama, hunter’s rights, the 70′s music scene, concealed carry and much more! There isn’t a dull moment in this episode as The Motor Ctiy Madman speaks his mind. You don’t want to miss it.

Famous Professional Hunter Jim Shockey highlights this weeks show! He is the only man on the face of the planet to complete the North American Super Slam- taking all 28 of the continents big game animals with only a muzzle loader. Jim also hosts the Outdoor Channel’s “Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures.”

TPWD Whitetaill Program Leader Mitch Lockwood also joins the show and Mitch goes on the Antler Restriction hot seat! We are talking AR’s and much more.