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It's been 6 years since I left Richardson, but I haven't forgotten the great shoots we had with all the North Texas gang. Wonder if you're still around. Life is good in Oregon, but hasn't been the same as far as the twin-pipe hobby goes. Great climate, tho.

Looking to hear back from any of the old gang.

Marc

Joined: 06 Oct 2014 Posts: 46 Location: Schertz, TX.

How's the pheasant hunting out there? I read somewhere that Oregon is where they were originally introduced on one of our presidents ranches .

I am embarrassed to say I haven't popped a cap since moving out here. I understand most of the pheasants are in private shooting preserves. There is some good Chukkar and Hungarian partridge hunting in the eastern part of the state.

Marc

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Marc,
Is there any target shooting around you? We visited Oregon last fall, looking at it as a possible place to live. We loved Salem.
Regards,
Jeff

Jefff,

Salem has a sporting clay, trap, and skeet range north of town. I think it is a pretty well run shooting facility. It has membership dues, but is also open to the public.

Marc

Joined: 15 Jul 2012 Posts: 127 Location: Golden, Colorado

txshootist,
I was born and raised in Oregon (pronounced Oregun for those that think it is Ore-gone). There are pheasants in eastern Oregon and a few in the wet western parts, but the ruffs are good in the clear cuts. I used to shoot them under power lines with my bow (actually an arrow), while deer hunting. Blacktail hunting with a 16ga slug might be an adventure. I lived on them while getting through college at OSU.
I do recall the fall and winter rains with fondness...that is when the salmon and steelhead would run up the rivers. Have you tried the Santiam, both north and south?
I also recall the spring rains with distaste...trout season was not yet open and the salmon and steelhead runs were done. Also the track at OSU was wet and muddy at the time, making running and jumping more of a chore. My question for you is...Do you really like all that rain?
Charlie

After 30 years in the 100 degree Texas heat, I don't mind the rain at all.

Marc

Member Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 134 Location: TEXAS

Howdy Marc,

Well, after 5 years of drought, it has been raining here in East Texas for the past month. Lakes east of I45 are pretty much full. Some lakes north of I20 may not be quite full yet.

If there have been any North Texas 16GA shoots since you left, I have not known about them. I have suggested a couple of times, but no takers.

I am glad that you are enjoying the Oregon scenery and fishing. I was invited on a catfish trip recently, and we did pretty good. Most of the time I just drag my lures through the water.

Good to hear from you,

HHH/Jim

Hey Jim,

Thanks for the response. We had some good shoots back then. Sorry the local interest has dropped off a bit. Interests come and go for me, too. I sure would love to have a plate of real southern fried catfish. They are "unobtanium" up here.

Cheers,
Marc

Member Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 134 Location: TEXAS

I went catfishing with my daughter and a cousin of hers down on Rayburn. My host has a "honey hole" and we caught 22 nice cats plus a couple of spotted bass.

My daughter and husband went out with the cousin and his wife about a week later and the four of them caught and kept 95 cats. (The limit is 25/person).

The only problem with Rayburn fish is that they are all contaminated with mercury and other toxic substances, mainly from a paper mill that used to be in Lufkin and dumped the sludge into the Angelina River, which feeds Rayburn.

The TP&WD recommends that you only eat 8oz of fish from Rayburn per month, but I doubt that any mercury is good for you. I have several bags of filets in my freezer and am debating whether to eat them or use them for chum on another lake that is less contaminated.

Happy trails,

Jim

Joined: 06 Oct 2014 Posts: 46 Location: Schertz, TX.

I would eat them. If you check that website most lakes are contaminated, just don't eat the meat from the lower half of the fish. The fatty sections are reported to contain more toxins. All the streets drain to creeks , rivers, lakes, and then the gulf. That's why eating big kingfish is bad and even the speckled sea trout in the bays contain mercury and arsenic. Man we are screwing this planet up Crying or Very sad

Member Joined: 17 Sep 2005 Posts: 134 Location: TEXAS

Howdy Sniper,

Well, my daughter's former family ate catfish from the Angelina River and Sam Rayburn every weekend for years, and they have all had severe health problems. I am convinced that the toxic fish they ate is the cause of their illness.

HHH

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

God I miss fried catfish. Up here most Yankees stick their nose up to it. The places that do offer it have no clue what they are doing. And a hush puppy? That requires an education usually followed by a blank stare.

Member Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 500

Marc hard to believe it has been 6 years !

We do need to have another 16 Gauge shoot!

Have you boys that rave about catfish ever eaten a Yellow Perch, Walleye or Bluegill???

I have tried catfish is several southern states after great reviews from the locals and it all tastes like a "bit-o-mud" was added to the darn things!!@!@ All I could ever finish was the hush-puppies.

I like a bunch of foods from the south, however, catfish is not one of them.