outdoors

Scoring 163, Heidi Newman’s main frame nine-pointer taken Oct. 3 joins a long list of quality bucks produced by 26 clubs that form the North Neches deer management cooperative in Anderson and Cherokee counties. Since 2015, the co-op has produced 64 free ranging bucks with B&C scores of 150 or more, including two in the 190s and one topping 200 inches. Courtesy/Heidi Newman via Matt Williams

Scoring 163, Heidi Newman’s main frame nine-pointer taken Oct. 3 joins a long list of quality bucks produced by 26 clubs that form the North Neches deer management cooperative in Anderson and Cherokee counties. Since 2015, the co-op has produced 64 free ranging bucks with B&C scores of 150 or more, including two in the 190s and one topping 200 inches. Courtesy/Heidi Newman via Matt Williams

ET Bruisers: Early season whoppers represent letting the young guys walk

Matt Williams
Monday, October 26, 2020
Sound deer and habitat management practices coupled with a budding interest in letting young bucks walk continues to pay off with some handsome whitetails for deer hunters across eastern Texas.

9.41 pounder takes top prize in big bass derby

Matt Williams
Monday, October 26, 2020
Keith Carlile of Mont Belvieu weighed in a 9.41 pounder during the 11-12 o’clock hour on Day 3 of the Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash held recently on Sam Rayburn to grab the tournament’s top prize package—a fully-rigged, 21-foot Triton bass boat, RAM Truck and $10,000.

Archery, squirrel seasons underway

Matt Williams
Monday, October 12, 2020
The 2020-21 statewide Archery Only season for white-tailed deer opened Oct. 3. Folks in the know are saying it should be a good one, thanks to good range conditions and the timely arrival of mild fall weather that has whitetails on the prowl.

Bass Champs wrap, Texas pros eying spots in FLW Title championship

Matt Williams
Monday, August 17, 2020
Marshall Hughes and Cole Stewart, both of Hemphill, weighed 21.86 pounds to top a field of 171 teams in the Bass Champs East Texas Division finale held Aug. 1 on Toledo Bend.  Bass Champs’ summer protocol limits teams to three-fish bags.  The winning bag averaged about 7.
Texas dove hunters will need to be sure to have a new 2020-21 hunting license and a valid Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp in hand when they head to the field next month. New licenses and public hunting permits go on sale Aug. 15. Courtesy/Matt Williams

Texas dove hunters will need to be sure to have a new 2020-21 hunting license and a valid Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp in hand when they head to the field next month. New licenses and public hunting permits go on sale Aug. 15. Courtesy/Matt Williams

Paying your dues: New hunting/fishing licenses on sale

Matt Williams
Monday, August 17, 2020
It’s early August, and the clock is ticking down towards another Sept. 1 dove season opener. Dove season in most of Texas gets underway on a Tuesday this year. It’s not the best timing for working folks, so some may have to sit out opening day.
James Maupin’s 13.15 pounder from Lake O.H. Ivie was the only 2020 Legacy Lunker out of four to successfully spawn this spring. The big West Texas bass produced nearly 30,000 offspring that were recently divided between lakes Nacogdoches, Alan Henry and O.H. Ivie. Courtesy/TPWD via Matt Williams

James Maupin’s 13.15 pounder from Lake O.H. Ivie was the only 2020 Legacy Lunker out of four to successfully spawn this spring. The big West Texas bass produced nearly 30,000 offspring that were recently divided between lakes Nacogdoches, Alan Henry and O.H. Ivie. Courtesy/TPWD via Matt Williams

Nearly 43,000 ShareLunker offspring stocked in Texas lakes since spring

Matt Williams
Friday, August 7, 2020
Safety and social distancing protocols associated with the COVID-19 pandemic helped take a big bite out of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s overall freshwater hatchery production numbers this spring, but the setbacks didn’t stop one Toyota ShareLunker Legacy Lunker from making a slew of little ones.
Crappie are a popular sport fish prone to gather in large number around man-made brush piles strategically placed to concentrate the fish. Courtesy/Matt Williams

Crappie are a popular sport fish prone to gather in large number around man-made brush piles strategically placed to concentrate the fish. Courtesy/Matt Williams

Angler conflicts around brush piles on the uptick on some lakes

Matt Williams
Monday, August 3, 2020
It is no secret among crappie fishing buffs that sinking brush piles far from shore is a great way to forge some really good fishing holes while enhancing the habitat at the same time.
Topwater fishing is arguably among the most enjoyable ways to catch bass because strikes can be explosive and totally unexpected when they come. Courtesy/Matt Williams

Topwater fishing is arguably among the most enjoyable ways to catch bass because strikes can be explosive and totally unexpected when they come. Courtesy/Matt Williams

Surface scratchin’: For love of the game

Matt Williams
Friday, May 22, 2020
Anyone who has spent much time around me knows I'm a bass junkie at heart and a topwater nut from way back. I like to catch bass any way they’ll bite, but I had rather fool them with a surface lure than any other way.
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