Here’s what’s worth reading today, Tuesday, June 25, 2019:
A call for boaters to share the Texas coast this summer: Summer is a great time to explore the Texas coast. Longer days, family vacations and more than 350 miles of coastline make its shallow bays and estuaries the perfect spot for anglers, boaters and kayakers. Yet, when people in different watercraft encounter each other in some spots, that can lead to user conflicts, and some boaters have damaged important ecological habitat. All this is prompting fishing guides and others to call for a new code of behavior. To reduce user conflict between boating groups, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is urging everyone to think ethically when using shared coastal resources.
Popular prequel to hunting season coming soon: Even though the Sept. 1 opening of the first of Texas’ 2019-20 hunting seasons is a little more than two sizzling months away, many of the state’s 1.2 million or so hunters anticipating time afield this autumn begin their preparations in earnest during the heat of summer. Their anticipation picks up the first week of July, when the state opens the lottery-like “drawn hunts” portion of its annual public hunting program.
Keep fishing, the weather will change: The thing about summertime fishing is the weather changes daily. One day it’s calm and green to the beach, the next you can’t keep a hat on your head. Just keep fishing. Eventually the weather will be in your favor.
Pellet gun for iguana hunting in Boca Raton community hits man: Homeowner E-Lyn Bryan says it started last Friday when workers from a pool company were doing maintenance in her patio area. “I came out to see what they were doing and I heard him scream at the top of his lungs and he had blood coming out of his leg and he was shot by the hunter.” Paramedics and the Boca Raton Police Department responded. Police say someone hired to shoot and kill iguanas in the Parkside neighborhood, hit a pool worker instead with a pellet gun.
The steelhead and the wedding ring: The beginning from love lost: Love lost, a wedding ring released and a steelhead recaught miles away on the other side of Lake Michigan. Sheez, there are so many pieces to the tale of the steelhead with the ring on its tail. “I really just didn’t want to cause any issues with my ex, she seems to find the story somewhat amusing and none of us can believe someone caught it!’’ Capt. Jason Rose messaged. As a cathartic move, Rose tied his wedding band to a steelhead on May 4 and released it near the port of Whitehall, Michigan. Of all improbabilities, the steelhead was recaught Friday, June 21, by a group of fishermen aboard Jim Nelligan’s “Grey Lion II” by the R4, a famous buoy east of Chicago’s north suburbs. They were fishing for lake trout with four colors of leadcore line with a Blue Dolphin spoon in 105 feet of water.
Colorado man receives lifetime ban on hunting, fishing and trapping after investigation: A Colorado man received a lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping ban after an investigation into his activities led to a felony conviction. Jeff Bodnar of Hartsel, Colo., was arrested and charged with 22 crimes related to illegal hunting and trapping activities. The 46-year-old, who has had his hunting, fishing and trapping privileges suspended twice before, pleaded guilty in May to unlawful possession of two black bears and a mountain lion as well as possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
Arizona Game & Fish supports ban on certain types of hunting contests: The Arizona Game & Fish Commission has voted to ban hunting contests that charge fees and award prizes for killing the most of certain types of predatory and fur-bearing animals. If given final approval by the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council, the rule would go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. Commissioner Kurt Davis, who is an avid hunter, said his vote in favor of the contest ban supports the North American Wildlife Conservation Model created in the mid-1800s, which anglers and hunters supported to conserve species.
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