Outdoor Guide

Outdoor Guide

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Sunday, 07 October 2007

Camping

Campgrounds:
  • Panoramic Hills RV Park, 10617 Deer Canyon Road #2, Jonestown, 78645, 267-0563
  • Big Oaks RV Park, 3330 W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park, 267-1775
  • Sunshine RV Park and Storage, 1351 CR 269, Leander, 259-7200
  • Windy Point Park, 6506 Bob Wentz Park Road, Austin, 78732, 266-3337
  • Cypress Creek Park, 13800 Bullick Hollow Road, Austin, 78762, 854-7275, www.co.travis.tx.us/tnr/parks/cypress_creek.asp
  • La Hacienda RV Park, 5320 Hudson Bend Road, Austin, 78734, 266-8001, www.lahaciendarvpark.com
  • Oak Forest RV Park, 8207 Canoga Avenue, Austin, 78724, 926-8984, www.oakforest-rvpark.com/
  • McKinney Falls State Park, 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin, 78744, 243-1643
  • Emma Long Park-Lake Austin, 1706 City Park Road, Austin, 78730, 346-1831
  • Pace Bend Park, 2501 N. Pace Bend Road, Spicewood, 78669, 264-1482
  • Lake Travis Inn and RV Park, 4511 Doss Road, Austin, 78734, 266-9329
  • Austin RV Park North, 4001 Prairie Lane, Austin, 78728, 244-0610
  • Camper Resort on Lake Travis, 17317 W. Beach Road, Austin, 78734, 266-1562, www.camperresort.com
  • Eastview RV Park, 552 Eastview Drive, Georgetown, 78626, 931-2251, www.east viewrvranch.com
  • Lake Georgetown, 500 Lake Overlook Drive, Georgetown, 78633, 930-5253
  • San Gabriel River RV Camp Resort, 40005 Heritage Hollow, Georgetown, 78626, 512-868-1401, www.sangabrielrv.com
  • New Life RV Park, 1200 CR 152, Georgetown, 78626, 931-2073, www.newlifervpark.com
  • Berry Springs RV Park, 140-C Market St., Georgetown, 78626, 864-2724, www.berryspringsrv.com
  • Shady River RV Resort, 7450 E. Hwy. 29, Georgetown, 78626, 930-1140, www.shadyriverrvresort.com
  • Bullard’s RV Park, 70 Iron Horse Drive, Hutto, 78634, 310-8063
  • Blackland Farms RV Park, 1800 CR 374, Taylor, 76574, 352-6853
RV rental and sales: Campers and trailers:
  • Princess Craft Campers and Trailers, 102 N. First St., Pflugerville, 78660, 251-4536
  • Dependable Camper Rentals, 1702 Dalshank, Pflugerville, 78660, 848-1824, www.dependablecamperrentals.com

Camping checklist:

  • Shampoo, soap, insect repellent, toothbrush/paste, comb, deodorant, towels, toilet paper, lip balm, sunblock, sunglasses and a sewing kit.
  • Driver’s license, money, map, compass, flashlight, batteries, lantern, bulbs, water, rope, clothespin, clothesline, radio, canteen, clock, camera, binoculars, chair, table, tent repair gear, pocket knife and a lighter.
  • First aid kit with medicines for common ailments. Antibiotic cream, antiseptic, tissues and bandages. Tweezers for splinters.
  • Sweatpants, shirt, sweater, thermals, gloves, jacket, pants, underwear, socks of varying thickness, pajamas, swimsuit, bandannas, hats, sandals and hiking boots.
  • Baby food, milk, bottles, pacifiers, diapers and baby wipes, spoons, blankets, play pen, stuffed toys, stroller and books. Games, toys, crayons, paper, bucket and shovel.
  • Tent, poles, mallet, ground cloth, sleeping bags, mattress, pillows, blankets, air pump, rope and stakes.
  • Food containers, cooler, pots, pans, stove, fuel, matches/lighter, plates and utensils, bowls, coffee pot, Thermos, foil, towel, spatula, tongs, bottle/can opener, knife, soap, sponge, trash bags, locking baggies, tablecloth and skewers.
  • Kindling, matches, newspaper, fire extinguisher, shovel, ax, wood and the permit.
  • Before leaving, lock doors and windows, turn off lights and appliances, adjust the thermostat, water plants and make pet plans.

RV camping tips:

  • Take a professional course in driving an RV.
  • Anyone 62 years or older may get a “Golden Age passport” for free wildlife, monuments, park and recreation facilities access.
  • Make reservations at least three weeks ahead.
  • Build the campfire away from the vehicle, attend to it and extinguish it before sleeping.
  • Before leaving the campsite, examine that all electric wires, sewer and water are unhooked and put the TV antenna down.
  • For more information, visit www.camping-tips.org

 

For a list of 2007-08 hunting seasons and regulations, visit www.txoutdoorannual.com.

Fishing

Buying a license
  • By phone, call (800) TX LIC 4 U, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday
  • Online, visit https://txfgisales.vansis.wcom.com/fgtxisa/ApplicationAccessDispatcher
  • In person, visit
    • Academy Sports #22, 1351 S. IH 35, 246 –4600
    • Gaddy’s, 403 FM 685, 251-4611
    • Red’s Indoor Range North, 1908 W. Pecan St., 251-1022
    • Sportman’s Warehouse #129, 3203 S. IH 35 Ste. 500, 218-8880
    • Wal-Mart Supercenter #0475, 2701 S. IH 35, 310 – 9024
    • Wal-Mart Supercenter #5480, 4700 E. Palm Valley Blvd., 218-1018
    • Wal-Mart Supercenter #5479, 1548 FM 685, 252-0112

Guide:

  • Central Texas Lakes Bass Fishing Guide Service, Jeff Cook, 10101 W. Parmer Lane, Ste. 413, Austin, 78717, 413-4178, www.genevaenterprises.com/fan/
  • Fishin’ Fever, Shane Holmes, 656-6659, www.osweb.com/bass/
  • Texas Hawgs Professional Bass Fishing Guide Service, Bryan Cotter, 2018 Lakeline Oaks Drive, Cedar Park, 762-0190, www.texashawgs.com

Community fishing lakes:

  • Bright Lake, Round Rock, 218-5540, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd.
  • Meadow Lake, Round Rock, 218-5540, 290 Settlement Drive
  • Round Rock West, 218-5540, 500 Round Rock West Drive
  • Brushy Creek Lake Park, 3300 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park, 401-5500
  • Devine Lake, 1000 Maple Creek, Leander, www.leanderpard.com/devine.cfm
  • Granger Lake, Granger, 859-2668, 3100 Granger Dam Road, Granger, 76530
  • Lake Bastrop, Bastrop, 498-1922 or 321-5048 375 S. Shore Road, Bastrop, 78602
  • Lake Georgetown, Georgetown, 930-5253 500 Lake Overlook Drive, Georgetown, 78633
  • Lake Pflugerville, 4600 Pflugerville Pkwy., Pflugerville, 251-5082
  • Rosemary Denny Park, 2400 E. Riviera, Cedar Park, 401-5500 San Gabriel Park, 445 E. Morrow St. Georgetown, 930-3595
  • Twin Lakes Park, 204 E. Elm Trail, Cedar Park, 401-5500

Marinas:

Source: www.takemefishing.org

Use these guidelines to measure fish correctly:

  • Place the fish on its side with the jaw closed.
  • Squeeze the tail fin together or turn it in a way to obtain the maximum overall length.
  • Measure a straight line from the tip of the snout to the extreme tip of the tail fin.

Tips for releasing fish

  • Quickly play and release fish.
  • Keep fish in water as much as possible.
  • Remove hook with pliers or cut line.
  • Gently place fish back into water.
  • Revive fish by holding upright in water and moving back and forth, gently forcing water through gills.

Source: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/

Ethical anglers…

  • Take only what they can use and use what they take.
  • Always recycle or properly dispose of monofilament line to protect the environment and aquatic or wildlife resources.
  • Leave no litter and don't pollute our waters.
  • Record their trophy with care and return it to the water.

Statewide bag and length limits*

  • Largemouth and smallmouth bass: 5, (any combination), 14”
  • Spotted and Guadalupe bass: 5 (in any combination), no limit
  • Striped and hybrid striped bass: 5 (in any combination), 18”
  • White bass: 25, 10”
  • Yellow bass: no limit, no limit
  • Catfish, channel and blue catfish, their hybrids and subspecies: 25 (in any combination), 12”
  • Catfish, flathead: 5, 18”
  • Crappie, white and black crappie, their hybrids and subspecies: 25 (in any combination), 10”
  • Paddlefish: no harvest allowed
  • Saugeye: 3, 18”
  • Sunfish, various species including bluegill, redear, green, warmouth and longear: no limit, no limit
  • Trout, rainbow and brown trout, their hybrids and subspecies: 5 (in any combination), no limit
  • Walleye: 5 (only two can be less than 16” in length), no limit

* Always check local regulations at individual lakes

Source: 2007-2008 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual, Hunting and Fishing regulations

Hunting

Meat Processors:

  • Klein’s Meats and Deer Processing, 15209 Delahunty Lane, Pflugerville, 78660, 251-3300
  • Taylor Meat Co., 2211 W. Second St., Taylor, 76574, 365-6358, www.taylormeat.com

 

Taxidermists:

  • Love Taxidermy, 1402 Thibodeaux, Round Rock, 78664, 716-0649, www.lovetaxidermy.net
  • Lunker Taxidermy, 1609 Serenity Dr., Pflugerville, 78660, 990-8870
  • Professional Taxidermy Studio, 2101 E. Whitestone, Cedar Park, 78613, 259-4902

Gun Stores:

Shooting Ranges

Texas Hunter Education

  • Every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education training course. Minimum age of certification is 12 years and cost is $15.
  • If you are:
    • under 12 years of age, you must be accompanied.*
    • age 12 through 16, you must successfully complete a hunter education course, or you must be accompanied.*
    • age 17 and over, you must complete a hunter education course; or purchase a hunter education deferral** and you must be accompanied.*

*Accompanied means: By a person who is at least 17, who is licensed to hunt in Texas, who has passed hunter education or is exempt (born before Sept. 2, 1971), and is within normal voice control.

** Hunter education deferral, $10, allows a person 17 years of age or older who has not completed a hunter education program to defer completion for up to one year. A deferral may only be obtained once and is only valid until the end of the current license year.

Source: 2007-08 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual

Boone and Crockett

The Boone and Crockett scoring system, adopted in 1950, uses numerical measurements to arrive at a score that is then ranked against the other animals in a particular category. There are categories for every big game animal in North America.

The scoring system measures only enduring characteristics — such as antlers, horns and skulls — as opposed to skin length or weight, so that the measurements may be repeated at any later date to verify the measurements and the resulting ranking in a category.

While anyone can score an animal using the B&C scoring system, the animal must be scored by an official measurer in order to be considered for the record book. The official Boone and Crockett measurers in this area are:

James Arnold, Austin, 312-2577, arnold@arnoldoil.com

Owen Carpenter, Burnet, 756-2945, trey@tstar.net

J. Paul Ellis, Round Rock, 310-1381

Kevin Schwausch, Burnet, 756-4476, kevin.schwausch@tpwd.state.tx.us

For downloadable scoring charts, an online scoring calculator or any other information on the Boone and Crockett scoring system, visit www.boone-crockett.org.

Source: www.boone-crockett.org

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