Congrats to our April winner. Be sure to send in your May entry for a chance to win a 50 qt Lone Star Outdoors Show Edition BruteBox cooler from our friends at Brute Outdoors!
What We’re Doing
Did a little coyote hunting in Kaufman County, Texas with our friend and Texas Country artists Zane Williams. We called in a couple yotes and then had fun with some firepower. Zane shooting our STI Firearms .223 AR.
We get the ball rolling by talking big bass this morning. In March, The Godfather of Big Bass- Dave Campbell- retired after 46 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife. So today we get to know the fella who took over as our Sharelunker Program Leader. Juan Martinez has the experience and passion to continue heading up the most successful bass management plan the world has ever seen. Juan talks about the programs goals in this new era and he gives us some tips on what lakes he thinks will produce the most Sharelunkers in the 2012-2013 season which runs from October 1st to April 30th. Any bass caught and weighing over 13 lbs can be entered into the Sharelunker program. A Lake Austin angler with a recent lunker- no doubt the catch of a lifetime!
The we get into some serious waterfowl talk with Ducks Unlimited’s Chief Scientist Dale Humberg. We break down the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services 2012 Waterfowl Population Survey. The numbers are the highest on record across the board, but will that mean full skies for the Texas duck hunter? Also what is going on with the Pintail- one of the few ducks to see a significant decrease in numbers (22%) in 2012. Is there cause for concern with this majestic duck which is a highly regarded trophy among Central Flyway hunters? Dale breaks it all down for us as we get ready for the November 3rd opener!
Then we round things off by talking South Texas deer with Chisum Cooke of Webb County’s Mendiola Ranch and Triple E Outfitters. Hunters from all over the U.S. travel to the brush country each fall and I had the pleasure of experiencing these giants for the first time last year. It didn’t disappoint as I took my largest buck ever as well as my first buck with a bow on the same weekend! Why do South Texas deer get so big? Nutrition? Genetics? Chisum gives us his thoughts. We also talk management philosophy and the special 2012 Lone Star Outdoors Show Trophy Hunt Package that is being offered to deer hunters this fall. I guarantee you won’t find a better deal!!! The 3,800 acre low fence ranch has plenty of mature bucks that range from the lower 140s to upper 150s like this beautiful 10 pt. To book a hunt email Lee Cooke at lcookemcs@aol.com or call 361-815-6192
Me with my mid 140s trophy from last season. No doubt the buck of my lifetime!
Future of Texas Big Bass, 2012 Waterfowl Season Outlook & South Texas Monster Bucks
We’ve got a good one lined up for ya this week! We kick it off when Glynn Underwood- Owner of Koon’s Canyon Ranch joins the broadcast. KCR has partnered with our show to sponsor our 2012 Photo of The Year Grand Prize! You’ll have to listen to find out exactly what the combo hunt package contains but I can tell you it includes more than one animal, lodging and yours truly will be there with you. KCR has a reputation for offering great axis and blackbuck trophy’s for amazing prices. My brothers and I spent a weekend in April at the ranch this past spring and I even harvested my first blackbuck. Hard to beat quality time with your brothers in the great outdoors!
Then a very special treat when a longtime DFW area radio personality, avid angler & former trapper, and of course lifelong musician Big Gus Samuelson of Big Gus & Swampadelic joins us in studio to talk some hunting, fishing and hit on Swampadelic’s new record ‘Parlangua’. Born and raised in Louisiana but having spent his adult life in Texas- Big Gus combines some deep cajun rifts with some classic Texas Country style. We also dive into a couple wild tales from Gus’ adventures coyote hunting and catfishing. Big Gus in studio:
We then round things out when Dallas Safari Club Executive Director Ben Carter drops by to talk about the latest news surrounding the world’s leader in big game conservation and education. DSC has been hosting an annual convention every year since 1972 and with each year the event continues to grow. Almost 35 years later and the annual convention is considered to be the “Show of Shows” as far as the outdoor industry is concerned. Over 1,000 booths and 40,000 outdoor enthusiasts will converge in the Dallas Convention Center January 3-6 2013 for “Journeys”- make sure you plan on attending this one of a kind event!
2012 Photo Contest Grand Prize Package, Tunes & Fishing with Big Gus and Dallas Safari Club's Ben Carter
This week we do something different and exciting when Steven Rinella makes his return to the show and joins us for almost the entire hour. Essentially, Steven co-hosts this week’s broadcast and we are certainly glad to have him. You probably know him as the host of the hit show ‘Meat Eater’ on Sportsman’s Channel. But many folks don’t realize that it’s Steven’s writing that got him to where he is today. And we are thrilled to have him discuss his brand new book Meat Eater: Adventures From The Life of An American Hunter with us. We focus on his story and how he has evolved and grown as an outdoorsman and we also get his thoughts on hunting ethics and how they have changed and continue to change with our country’s current conservation model. Of course we also talk butchering, what happened with The Wild Within, and we get some of his favorite recipes for various cuts of venison (heart LOL). Get ready because we’re all over the map with one of the most straightforward voices in the outdoor industry. Check out the trailer for Steven’s new book:
We wrap things up by talking fall bass patterns and go to baits with our good buddy and Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. Most Texas lakes are beginning to turn over, the days are getting shorter and water temps are dropping. What do these factors mean for big bass? Heath breaks down his favorite baits/techniques, where he’s finding fish and what to expect as they move into fall patterns. Also, the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash is September 21-23 on Fork and there is over $500,000 in cash and prizes on the line for this year’s tourny. This one can’t be beat as far as amateur bass tournaments go. A happy client with a monster on one of Heath’s recent trips:
We kick things off by checking in with our longtime friend and Army Bass Anglers Founder Major Cody Roberson. ABA continues to grow and spread it’s mission to Support, Defend & Fish. This organization started in San Antonio, Texas and it’s reach spreads from coast to coast. Major Roberson shares some breaking news about ABA’s hit fishing show ‘Force on Force’. The ABA pro-staff is made up of former and active military like Brent Homan (pictured below) – Brent was hit by an IED while deployed in Iraq in 2007- he lost an eye, suffered major brain trauma and nerve damage in his right arm. Despite those injuries he never lost his passion for fishing and is now chasing his dream of fishing on the Elite Series. Stories like Brent’s are the result of this great organization- dedicated to getting our heroes out on the water.
The a special treat when Chris Knight makes his return to the program. A longtime friend of the show, Chris’ honest, raw and rural songwriting is in a class by itself. Chris has a new record due out next week, and we talk about ‘Little Victories’ and what provided the inspiration behind the new album. Of course, we can’t visit with Chris without mixing in some hunting and fishing talk as well. So get ready because Chris is gonna tell it like it is.
We then round out this week’s show by talking quail with our buddy Robert Perez- Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Upland Game Bird Program Leader. The drought of 2011 was disastrous for the bobwhite, but did they bounce back in 2012? Robert has the data from TPWD’s statewide roadside surveys compiled and he breaks it down for us. The 2012-2013 quail season just might have a brighter outlook than the past couple years. If we continue to get needed moisture then sights like the one below should continue to become more common.
Chris Knight, Army Bass Anglers and Texas Quail Outlook
We start things off by checking in with our good friend Captain Len Girard. September is one of the best months to head to the Texas coast and wet a line. How are the trout, redfish and flounder bites looking? Captain Len tells us where to find ‘em and what to catch ‘em on when he joins us live from the Upper Laguna Madre! Redfish like the one below can be found in scattered in shallow water throughout bay systems during the early fall.
Then we’ll talk some shotgunning with the authority on the subject. 5 time USA Olympic Medalist Kimberly Rhode has earned a medal in 5 straight Olympic games- including nailing 99 of 100 targets en route to a gold medal in London. How many rounds does she shoot a day? What is her favorite game to hunt? And will we see Kim back at the 2016 Rio games? All that and a whole lot more with the best female shotgunner to ever pick up a 12 gauge!
We round out the show by checking in with Tom Snyder of Trinity Oaks – a Texas based 501c3 dedicated to taking our wounded vets and terminally ill children on their dream hunting and fishing trips. We talk about Trinity Oaks various programs and how you can get involved and start making a difference in the lives of those who need it and deserve it. This picture of one of our Afghanistan veterans sums up what Trinity Oaks is all about:
Hang on tight because we are moving fast today! We kick it off talking big game field tips with Rustic Reminders taxidermist Josh Guenther. If you are like me, then you love whitetails as much as the next guy BUT you probably have a buckets list that includes Western big game animals such as mule deer, elk, moose and black bear. So how should you prepare such trophies in the field so that your taxidermist can make you a mount that will last a lifetime? In Texas we simply field dress a buck- toss it in the bed of the truck and head to our taxidermist. That luxury simply doesn’t exist in the mountains and wide open spaces of the Western U.S. – in many cases it might multiple trips and maybe even days take days to pack an animal out. Josh breaks down how to properly remove a hide from the skull and where to saw the skull with the antlers in tact. These tips could help you on your next Western big game adventure!
Then a real treat when legendary Texas outdoor writer Ray Sasser of the Dallas Morning News jumps on to talk about his favorite top water lures/techniques for largemouth bass. Topwater action can be fast and furious but many folks lack the confidence to consistently throw topwater plugs- myself included. Ray’s topwater experiences will definitely help change that mentality. There are so many options to choose from- pick a couple, stick with ‘em and you’ll probably be surprised at the number of bass that will blow up the surface.
Then we round out the broadcast by checking in with our Texas Parks and Wildlife Pronghorn Antelope Program Leader- Shawn Gray. Texas has two major pronghorn herds- the Panhandle herd and the Trans-Pecos herd. One is doing significantly better than the other and Shawn explains why. Also, will there be an increase in buck tags for the upcoming season? We talk anything and everything you want to know about the Texas Pronghorn!
Field Care Tips, Topwater Bass Baits & Texas' Pronghorn Antelope Update
So much to get into this week! We kick it off by talkin’ some bass fishing with Lone Star Outdoor News Reporter John Keith. His recent article “Trading Birdies For Bass” shed light on the largely untapped resource of golf course bass fishing. Most of these ponds receive little to no pressure and the bass are hungry and aggressive! Find a golf course near you and throw out your favorite bait- I bet you will be surprised at the results. My dad and I hit an area course last week and caught about 25 fish between us. Dad caught this one on a crankbait.
Then we change it up and talk wingshooting with a living legend. You might know him as an oil tycoon and businessman, but T. Boone Pickens is about as passionate a dove and quail hunter ever to hold a shotgun. He hasn’t missed a dove opener or a quail season in 74 years and he has no plans to slow down now. We reflect on the good old days, bird dogs, and quail conservation with a man represents what it means to be a sportsman in every sense of the word.
We then round out the broadcast by talking retrievers with Mike Walden- President of the Big D Hunting Retriever Club. We discuss some of the club’s upcoming events as well as their goals and mission. Whether you want to train your dog for hunt tests or just want some passionate retriever owners to learn from and train with, the Big D HRC is a great organization. No matter where you live in Texas, there are similar clubs out there. I encourage everyone to get plugged in with some like minded retriever enthusiasts. Mike running his dog Hooch at a recent hunt test.
Feral hogs and raccoons teaming up? Geesh, talk about an evil tag team on feed intended for deer! Guess this hog did something to make these coons very happy. Thanks to one of our listeners for sending in this amazing photo.
Dove season is almost here! Hope you’ve been shooting plenty of skeet. We kick things off with dove outfitter David Grey of Dove Blasters. David is a longtime Texas dove hunter and we pick his brain on everything pertaining to hunting this delicious little feathered quarry. What does he look for in a dove field and how does he decide where to set up once he has a field picked out? All that and a whole lot more with a dove hunting authority. David with man’s best friend after a good day in the dove field.
Then we talk some summertime bass fishing with one of the best bass anglers to ever wet a line. Weatherford, TX resident Gary Klein has won two BASS Angler of Year awards, has won a BASS tournament in each of 4 decades and has qualified for 29 Bassmaster Classics! To say he knows bucketmouths in an understatement. Gary talks about the Elite Series, Major League Fishing and he gives us his favorite late summer techniques to land big bass.
Then we once again get back into dove hunting mode when Texas Parks and Wildlife Dove Program Leader Corey Mason drops in. A longtime friend of the program Corey pretty much knows all there is to know about our Texas dove populations. What does he expect this season compared to last year? We also talk dove banding and research. We’ll even hit on the ever expanding range of my favorite species- the white winged dove. Photo of this beautiful white wing – by Russell Graves.
Dove Hunting Special & An All Time Great Bass Angler
We kick it off by talking a little music and a whole lot of outdoors with country music superstar Craig Morgan. A lifelong hunter with 10 years of active service in the U.S. Army- Craig was an outdoorsman long before he hit it big in Nashville. This fall Craig will begin filming for season 4 of “Craig Morgan- All Access Outdoors” which airs on Outdoor Channel.
Then a real treat when former pro golfer turned golf analyst turned talk show host and avid outdoorsman David Feherty drops in! A native of Northern Ireland- David is one of those folks who “Isn’t from Texas, but got here as fast as they could.” David is never short for words and always entertaining as heck. He gives us the lowdown on what to expect on season 3 of “Feherty’ which airs on Golf Channel. We also get into David’s real passions which happen to be flyfishing, wingshooting and riddling feral hogs full of .50 caliber bullet holes! You don’t want to miss our chat with one of golf’s biggest personalities.
We round out the show by talking food plots with Dr. James Kroll who was nice enough to come back on the show for the second week in a row after we ran outta time last week- just too much to discuss concerning feral hogs preying on fawns! Anyway- this week it’s all food plots. When should you plant your fall crop, what percentage of your ranch or lease should be planted and what should you plant in your region of the state? Great stuff from Dr. Deer and his 40 years of experience as a whitetail biologist.
David Feherty, Country Star Craig Morgan and Food Plots With 'Dr. Deer'
