Lone Star Outdoor Show

This week’s show is like none other. In The Instagram Edition, we deviate from the script to bring you real interviews from hunters/anglers much like yourself. These four individuals put out some of the best content on social media and I am a big fan of their Instagram pages for one reason or another. In this episode we visit with each of them regarding their area of expertise. Few folks have a passion for back country bowhunting like Zach Owens. This guy lives and breathes it and his @Beyond_the_Backcountry page is proof of that. With over 26,000 followers, Zach routinely puts out great content for the Western bow hunter. We discuss the species he pursues in his home state of Idaho. Plus, I’ll get his take on the hunting community attacking itself from the inside out. Zach also gives us a first hand account of what wolves have done to Idaho’s elk herds. (Zach with a beautiful Idaho velvet mulie) Next we check in with a longtime friend of mine who has a passion for hog hunting like no one I’ve ever met. Anthony Amantine didn’t get the nickname ‘TxKiller’ for nothing and everytime he takes down a hog, he does the landowner a great service. Only on Instagram for a year, his @a.amantine account has grown to over 7,500 followers. We discuss appropriate calibers and bullet selection for both day and night hunting scenarios. Is the .223 really a great round for feral hogs? Anthony breaks it down and much more. Plus we also get into his passion for photography. Whether it’s a great trophy photo or one of his hundreds of gun photos, Anthony is a maestro behind the lens. Looking forward to having him share some of his photography tips. (Anthony with a morning’s work) We then shift gears and break out the long rod when my favorite fly fishing page drops in. James Carpenter – AKA @DirtyNymper- joins us to talk all things fly fishing for big browns and rainbows. His 10,000 followers have come to expect great fly fishing information and amazing photos and James delivers on an almost daily basis. The South Dakota Fire fighter has been fly fishing for 30 plus years and has a wealth of knowledge on hunting trophy trout with a fly rod. He gives us his favorite dry flies and nymphs for this time of year as well as the presentation technique that early winter trout are most likely to respond to. James also gives us his take on catch and release and if it bothers him when other anglers keep fish. You can also check out his ‘The Troutmen’ page on Facebook for more trout fishing insight. (James with a Black Hills brownie) . We wrap things up with some wild game discussion with Jeremiah Doughty of @FromFieldToPlate. This hunter turned wild game chef has amassed a following of over 18,000 folks for good reason. He simply creates some of the most original and delicious wild game dishes you’ll see. Jeremiah talks about the ‘From Field to Plate’ lifestyle his family lives everyday, having not purchased meat at a store in over 3 years. He also gives us a couple of his favorite late fall/early winter dishes that are especially easy to create. You can find more of his culinary expertise on his website: www.fromfieldtoplate.com (Jeremiah collecting the precious bounty from a hard earned pronghorn)

In 1991, the Federal Lead Shot Ban was implemented for all waterfowl loads. 25 years after the fact, we take a look at how that reshaped the waterfowl shot shell market place. Hevi Shot ammunition President and Co- Founder Ralph Nauman drops in to talk about the history of steel shot alternatives and why those loads are more lethal than today’s regular steel shot shell. Plus, did you know that some of today’s non toxic loads are even denser than lead? Ralph also takes through the testing phase of how they prove to the USFWS that a shot shell is indeed non toxic. (Pintail wrecked by Hevi Shot) Next we are joined by Joshua Creek Baptist Church Pastor Gene Wolfenbarger. His congregation sent him and his son on a bucket list caribou hunt as a 30th Anniversary present! At 77 years old, Dr. Wolfenbarger found the Quebec adventure to be quite the physical challenge. We relive the experience and I can’t help but feeling a little closer to the Man Upstairs in doing so. (Pastor with his Caribou) November is one of the best times to head down to the Gulf for that trophy bull red. The spawn is on and Captain Len Girard tells us where he is finding big schools of healthy reds as well as limits of trout. (Nice bull I caught on a recent trip with Captain Len) Then we welcome John X Safari’s Owner and Longtime PH Carl Van Zyl to the show live from the Dark Continent. Carl is the 2nd generation owner of one of South Africa’s premiere hunting outfits and we discuss a myriad of topics from Sustainable Use Hunting, to What to Expect on Your First Safari and South Africa’s storied Eastern Cape. We are looking forward to visiting with Carl periodically as we gear up for our first Safari this summer! (Carl with a huge bull sable)

Quail Season has arrived! What can hunters expect for the 2016-17 season? We find out when Texas Parks and Wildlife Upland Game Bird Program Leader Robert Perez makes his return to the show. Robert talks about quail numbers across the state as well as some restocking projects that TPWD is working on in areas void of quail for nearly 30 years. It should be a banner year for bobs and blues! Next, our old friend Charles Whited of Barefoot Fishing Tours drops in for some late fall lunker talk. Few folks know big bass like the longtime guide and tournament angler. Charles tells us where he is finding the big girls and what bait/technique is bringing them over the rail of his bass boat. Then a Texas whitetail legend stops by for some in depth big buck discussion. At 83 years young, Horace Gore has been studying, hunting and writing about whitetails longer than most of us have been alive. After a 33 year career with Texas Parks and Wildlife, Horace has spent his later years as Editor for Texas Trophy Hunter’s Journal. We discuss his recent article “Trophy Bucks: Timing is Key”. In the piece, Horace breaks down where and when the peak rut occurs throughout Texas and how to use those key dates to your advantage if you want to bag big boy. (Horace with a Texas giant) The geographical breakdown of whitetail deer chronology in Texas. These are the results from an in depth study from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Horace tell us how the study was conducted. Also, you might not know that TPWD stocked nearly 16,000 whitetail deer all over the state during the 1950’s and 60’s. That stocking effort likely has something to do with the deer you see on your ranch or lease today. Horace tells us where TPWD got the deer and why it’s significant for today’s hunter like you and I.

We start things off by diving into some whitetail management philosophy with our old friend and renown whitetail authority Dr. James Kroll. At what age do you determine whether or not a buck is going to be a trophy or a cull? What factors determine how you decide? ” Dr Deer” gives us his take. Plus, we discuss the ideal doe harvest plan and ideal doe age structure on a property. (these bucks are regulars at the bait site on my whitetail lease – the brow tine less individual is #1 on the cull list this fall) Then, our good buddy and country music throwback Zane Williams drops by the studio. Zane’s new record ‘Bringing Country Back’ was released this week. Check it out on ITunes. We hear a couple brand new tunes and rehash some of the more memorable hunting trips we’ve shared. One thing is for sure, if Zane is around the animals usually don’t cooperate! Exception to the rule! Zane with this Axis buck he harvested at the first Guns and Guitars Hunt at Koon’s Canyon Ranch. We wrap up this week’s broadcast by talking some late fall wild game dishes with The Sporting Chef – Scott Leysath. The longtime TV show host, author and outdoorsman offers up a couple seasonal dishes that you might want to try while in the backcountry or at the deer lease this fall. Get ready to beer poach some fresh fish and chicken fry those venison hearts with one of the most respected wild game chefs out there.

We kick things off this week by chasing late fall blue cats with longtime guide Greg Pavur of Pavur Outdoors. Greg talks about their behavioral shift as temperatures start to drop this time of year. What does that mean as far as where he is targeting them? Right now is one of the best times to catch good numbers of big fish as they have the feed bags on and are eating everything that crosses their path! We also discuss the biology of the catfish and why they can smell so much better than other predatory game fish. (Greg with a healthy Mr. Whiskers!) Next we get an outfitter’s perspective on the whitetail deer hunting and breeding industry in Texas. Stephen Gegenheimer’s family has been breeding deer and elk for nearly 30 years, so to say it’s in the 22 year old’s blood is an understatement. I had the pleasure of hunting with him at the family place outside of Coriscana, TX last week and it honestly was one of the most impressive ranches I’ve had the opportunity to step foot on. Cotton Mesa Whitetail Ranch is 4,000 acres of paradise, from the food and lodging to the incredible whitetails and exotics that roam the property. Stephen gives us an inside look at the breeding process and what goes into managing and growing big deer. We also recap his recent Yukon moose hunt! You don’t want to miss that bucket list experience. ( Cotton Mesa takes pride in big symmetrical bucks like this 180 inch 8 pt taken this season) Josh Guenther of Rustic Reminders Taxidermy drops by the studio next for a discussion on proper field care tips for your trophy. Whether it’s an elk in the backcountry where you won’t be able to get to the taxidermist for a couple days or just a nice buck you’ve taken at the lease and are planning on caping out for your taxidermist. There are certain measures and details that need paying attention too. He walks us through removing a hide from the skull completely and how to transport it. Josh even spends a couple minutes on what to do with that trophy bass or redfish as well! We wrap thing up by checking in with Feeding Texas CEO Celia Cole who also happens to head up Texas’ Hunters for the Hungry program. Over 3 million Texans depend on Feeding Texas each year and this is a great way for hunters to give back to those in need through their deer harvest. Celia admits the program was in need of a major facelift and she talks about the direction she would like to see Hunters for the Hungry go in the near future. There is reason to believe the $45 donation fee that hunters pay processors in order to offset their labor might be waived completely in the future. Tune in for details.

We start things off by talking public hunting opportunity in Texas with our TPWD Public Hunting Director Justin Dreibelbis. We find out how the funds created from our public draw system are appropriated back into hunting and conservation. How many applications does TPWD get every year? What are some of the public draw opportunities? How much funding is created? All that and much more! (Desert Big Horn Sheep taken by the 2015 Big Time Texas Hunts Grand Slam winner). Then we are joined by Taylor, Texas native Kelton Malish. This young man is pioneering the sport of spear fishing from the bank. He makes his own spears and posts videos of his spear fishing adventures on social media. The lifelong outdoorsman talks about how he found a passion for this type of fishing and how he hand makes each spear. Looking forward to trying my hand at it with a Kelton Malish original spear that he sent me! Then we wrap up the broadcast with me offering up some advice that might help our listeners bag that big buck this season. Hand corning was a key factor in me taking the biggest archery buck of my life last weekend. The big ones get smart for a reason and sometimes avoid feeders all together. But they still feel comfortable coming to a hand tossed bait bile. (I chased this buck for two seasons before arrowing him at a hand corned bait site opening weekend of archery season)

The summer that wouldn’t quit seems to finally be relenting. That means our buddy Jeff Thomason from Predator Pursuit will be out calling song dogs. Jeff talks about his typical set up for a stand. We get the details on everything from what caliber he recommends to how long he plays a sound on the Foxpro before changing it up. How long will he sit on one stand? All that and a whole lot more with one of the best at stacking fur. Next we head down to the Gulf of Mexico with longtime tuna captain Bruce Daniecki. It’s been a rough year for tuna fisherman and Bruce gives us his take on why that is. We also get into where to find both yellow and blackfin tuna. Of course Bruce also talks about the different methods of fishing for each species and how he rigs up for each. In the next segment we keep things rolling with Captain Daniecki but on a totally different topic- Idle Iron. This policy enacted by the Interior Department in 2010 signaled the end for the world’s largest artificial reef system and the vitality of many of the species found on these unique oil rig ecosystems. With over 4,000 oil rigs set to be removed or altered, this is has been a huge loss for angles and conservation. Bruce talks about what he’s seen first hand concerning the effect of Idle Iron. (Here a rig is blown up. The resulting fish loss was incredible. Thousands of snapper wasted- for what?) We round out the broadcast with a Texas hunting tale for the ages! Former Texas A&M baseball player Mitchell Nau recently harvested what is perhaps the largest mountain lion ever taken in Texas. He talks about that evening last month when the lion suddenly bounded out of the canyon he and his buddies were overlooking at sunset. The ensuing free handed shots at 200 plus yards are the stuff of legend! The cat weighed 160 lbs after bleeding out overnight. Huge kitty!

When Buzzbaits hit the market years ago they were all the rage. Some anglers even wanted them outlawed in tournaments. Today, they often sit in a dark corner of the tackle box, barely used. Wired2Fish’s Walker Smith joins the show this week to explain 10 reasons why that is a huge mistake. Next, longtime friend of the show Aaron Lewis drops in to discuss his new record ‘Sinner’. The former hard rocker has found his mellow side in writing and singing real country music- far from the Nashville pop being played on the radio today. An avid bow hunter, we’ll also talk about the upcoming hunting season, chasing elk with a bow and his favorite carry weapon. Oh, and you won’t want to miss his take on the potential nightmare of Hillary Clinton being our next president. We wrap things up by recapping my recent mule deer and elk hunt in Colorado. It there was a way to screw it up, I did it. Hopefully one of you can learn from my mistakes and not loose that trophy of a lifetime this season. Humble Pie and tag soup is all I came back to Texas with.

We start things off with some archery tips from Trophy Archery Product Manager Jacob Thomason. The archery opener for whitetail hunters is merely weeks away and Jacob offers up some insightful info on how he fine tunes his craft leading up to the opener. We also discuss the REACT technology that Trophy Ridge uses in their line of bow sites. Then we head down to the South Texas coast with our fly rod in hand and talk tailing redfish with Captain Vince Ochoa. A longtime friend of our show, Captain Vince talks about different fly patterns for skinny water reds, as well as the appropriate fly rod/reel for this strong fighting fish. We discuss the stalk and the cast and even ideal weather conditions for successful hook ups while stalking the mangrove flats. Next we follow up on the USFWS’ (United States Fish & Wildlife Service) gross abuse of power that they exhibited on the State of Alaska and it’s wildlife earlier this month. This time however, we hear it from the horse’s mouth when Alaska Fish and Game Conservation Director Bruce Dale jumps on. He gives us his take on the unprecedented overreach by USFWS and what it means for every other state out there. (Alaska no longer has the power to control predator numbers on it’s state wildlife refuges- expect images like this moose being killed by wolves to become increasingly popular). We wrap things up with me recapping a bucketlist adventure/fishing trip that every outdoorsman and woman should consider taking. The Boundary Waters canoe trip is affordable and offers some of the most spectacular settings, wildlife and fishing one will find. I’ll tell you what you can expect to budget and outline the details of what to bring and what your outfitter will supply you. (My brother, dad and myself with a stringer of Ontario smallies caught in early August while on a recent canoe trip).

Have you ever traveled on an airline with your hunting rifle or bow? Domestically or Internationally? There are some things you need to know on both fronts. Our friend Derrick Ratliff of Horizon Firearms is well versed on each and we are thrilled to have him join the show this weekend as lots of folks are gearing up for bucket list hunts this fall. Tune to find out how to navigate through the red tape thrown at hunters by TSA and international travel with your weapon. We also are joined by Third Coast Sharking founder and disabled veteran Michael Williams. We discuss his passion for catching, tagging, taking DNA samples and releasing big sharks. Over 50% of the Third Coast team is made up of disabled combat veterans. Randomly, I had the pleasure of meeting and fishing with a few of them on Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi last weekend. Michael with a giant PINS tiger shark that was tagged and released. Then we check in with Dallas Safari Club Executive Director Ben Carter and we discuss the rampant anti hunting and overreaching nature of the USFWS. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service appears to have forgotten who pays their salaries and what their actual purpose of existence is.

With archery season merely a month out, we talk last minute tips leading up to deer season with TV Show host and renown whitetaiil author Bill Winke of Midwest Whitetail. Are food plots still going in the ground? Are camera’s out in full force? What about hanging tree stands and clearing shooting lanes? Bill gives us his take on when we should be taking care of some last minute details. (Bill with a 200 inch Iowa bruiser) Then we are joined by Quack Rack’s Chase Perryman. The worst part about being a serious duck hunter is lugging around all the gear that is required to consistently kill ducks. Chase tells us about the innovative new Quack Rack system that is designed to make duck hunting more user friendly. We also take a look at the upcoming duck season with the former guide and professional retriever trainer. Dove season opens up for many of us this week! So we are joined by Texas Parks and Wildlife dove program leader Shaun Oldenburger. We get his fearless forecast for the upcoming season. How many dove do Texas hunters harvest annually? Has whitewing expansion North finally slowed? How did the spring hail storms and flooding affect nesting success across the state? We get the answers from our old friend.

We start off by going deep for summer crappie with longtime friend of the show Charles Whited of Barefoot Fishing Tours. Of course, if Charles is on with us then we’ll have to mix in some largemouth discussion as well. He tells us where he’s finding both species and what he’s catching them on as water temps are well into the upper 80’s across much of the southern U.S. With Dove Season only 2 weeks out we are thrilled to have Field and Stream Magazine Shotgun Editor Phil Bourjaily back on the program. Phil talks about the learning curve with shooting an over/under shotgun vs a semi auto. He also discusses some tips from his upcoming Field and Stream feature “Combat Dove Hunting”. How does Phil survive opening day of dove season when hunters are packed into fields like shotgun wielding sardines? Outdoor writer Leo Harris of the North American Hunting Competition stops in next. We break down his recent article “Field Judging Trophy Mule Deer” which was featured on the OnXMaps website. A veteran of 15 years of chasing back country mule deer, Leo gives us some pointers on how to tell if a buck is a trophy, a decent shooter or just an average deer. Many of us are planning our mule deer hunts for this fall, knowing what we are looking at through the spotting scope vs the naked eye could mean the difference in a true trophy or some major ground shrinkage! We wrap things up by talking land aquisition with Lone Star Ag Credit’s Jason Petit. Let’s face it, land is the one thing they aren’t making more of, yet we all want it. So how can the average outdoorsman or woman afford to get their piece of the pie? It might not be as far fetched as you think.

Randy Newberg -elk hunter and host of “Fresh Tracks” on Sportsman Channel joins us this week we discuss how he breaks down a topo map prior to a backcountry hunt. What features does he key in on as he pours over paper and digital maps? How does he eliminate non productive areas? We discuss in depth, plus Randy talks about the 5 different parts of the elk season and how he defines each one. Since I am heading to Canada on a fishing trip next week we’ll talk Northern Pike and smallmouth bass with Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame member Gord Pyzer. The predatory nature of the pike is extremely fascinating. Gord tells us where to look for them and what baits will get the most strikes. Looking forward to picking the brain of the Ontario native. We wrap up the broadcast by talking shotguns with Mossberg’s Linda Powell. Mossberg gave us a 935 Semi Auto 12 gauge as our August Photo of the Month grand prize. We discuss that waterfowling shotgun as well as their Silver Reserve Super Sport Over/Under shotgun series. This American made classic is a thing of beauty. But what is it like for Mossberg as they try to compete in the over/under market that is dominated by foreign gun makers (Beretta, Benelli, Browning)?

We get the ball rolling by breaking down “9 Tips for Late Summer Catfish”. The long days might be hotter than heck, but so is the catfishing. Longtime friend Chad Ferguson of North Texas Catfish Guide Service drops in to tell us where to find and catch good numbers for fish fry during the dog days of summer. Drifting, Chumming, Live vs Dead Bait, Punch Bait, Big Flatheads, and Understanding the Thermocline are all on the table for discussion! Next, we take on the controversial Benjamin Airbow (recently released by Crossman). This weapon projects an arrow, but as you can see in the photo it looks like a gun. So, we’ve invited Archery Trade Association Director Of Government Affairs Mitch King on the show to give us the ATA’s take on the airbow. Do they think it should be allowed during the regular archery season? Apparently this thing flings arrows at 450 feet per second! I will give my opinion as well, plus we take a look at Crossman’s reply to the ATA’s press release on their airbow. Carp, Gar, Buffalo, Paddlefish??? Do you eat them? Would you eat them? Field and Stream Hunting Editor Will Brantley makes his return to the broadcast and we discuss his article “Fish on A Stick”. These before mentioned rough fish are favorite targets of bowfisherman and Will has tried them all. He tells us which ones are bad, which are good, which one is a true delicacy and even one that is served proudly in many southern restaurants. (Don’t shoot paddlefish in Texas by the way, they’re protected here but are fair game in many other states). We wrap up by doing a little urban bowhunting for cottontail rabbits and I share a personal story you might find humorous. Lets just say a couple friends from New York City got more than they bargained for when they came and ate at the Smith house last weekend!

We discuss bobwhite quail and their recovery with Jay Stine- Executive Director of the Quail Coalition. 2015 was a banner year for bob’s and it looks like 2016 should be great as well. Equally as exciting is the work the Quail Coalition is doing on the Texas landscape. Jay talks about some upcoming events, where monies raised are spent locally and we also discuss the eye worm’s impact on quail mortality. (rooster I photographed in Rocksprings, Texas last week) Next, we’re joined by our longtime friend Captain Mike Holliday of Costa Sunglasses. A saltwater veteran of over 3 decades, Mike has been chasing tarpon up and down the Florida coast for as long as he can remember. Is the tarpon fishery a healthy one in his opinion? What are the best months to target this migratory species? What are his favorite baits- both live and artificial. It’s Tarpon 101 with one of our favorite guides. (Captain Mike with a nice tarpon at the boat) Ducks Unlimited Conservation Outreach Biologist Kirby Brown then makes his return as we take a look at duck nesting production and how current water conditions will affect the fall migration in 2016. Kirby also talks Texas water conditions and what that means for wintering birds. Rice production is up for the first time in a long time along the coast and that should translate into healthy ducks and lots of them. Lastly, we take a look at the unique mottled duck and how the non migratory species is doing in it’s native coastal habitat. We finish strong with a segment titled “So You Want to Be An Outfitter” with Three Curl’s Brett Jepsen. Some of you might want to get into outfitting or guiding part or even full time and Brett provides some insight on what it takes. After years of part time outfitting he finally quit his 9 to 5 job and went full time. Has been it been all he thought it was cracked up to be? Does he work more now than before? How does he maintain healthy relationships with his landowners and clients? All that, plus we talk about the upcoming dove season. (Brett on a fun public land teal hunt we did a couple years back)