NBA Star and Dallas Maverick Monta Ellis wakes up early with us this week. We discuss the start of the NBA season and what it’s been like adding so many new parts to what was a good Mavs team last season. Monta breaks down what it’s been like playing along side Dirk, and playing for coach Rick Carlisle.

Then we quickly shift gears and dive into Monta’s other real passion in life- fishing. He talks about what fishing means to him as place to get away from the fast pace of everyday life. What is his favorite species to catch? What about favorite baits? We even get his signature crappie recipe! The man has a 100 acre lake on his home in Mississippi and he wets a line every chance he gets. I’m sad to say his personal best largemouth has me beat. Monta doing the two things he knows best:

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Next up we break down the predator/prey relationship between whitetail deer and coyotes when outdoor writer Bob Zaiglan drops in. The coyote has proven to be the most adaptable predator in North America. Not surprisingly, this remarkable and intelligent pack animal is responsible for high mortality rates in fawns.

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What many folks fail to realize however, is the high mortality rate caused by coyotes in mature, post rut bucks. January and February are when mature bucks are at their weakest. They’ve expending so much energy fighting and mating that they usually have lost between 30-35% of their body weight. And where a doe will run from a coyote, a buck will usually square off with them. This typically doesn’t end in the buck’s favor. One coyote keeps the buck facing it while others hamstring him from behind. Bob gives us some insight on how we can help control coyote numbers and also some habitat management ideas that will help decrease fawn mortality rates. This post rut South Texas buck took to water as a survival method after squaring off with coyotes. (Photo by David Sams)

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Texas Parks and Wildlife Coastal Fisheries Director Robin Reichers joins us next to explain how the Gulf Coast Fishery Management Council voted to essentially shut the private angler completely out of the thriving Red Snapper fishery. Passing by a vote of 10-7, Amendment 40 ensures that private and recreational off shore anglers will have no more than a ONE DAY red snapper season in federal waters this summer.

Robin and our two other Texas reps on the council DID NOT vote in favor of Amendment 40. This type of political corruption has no place in the fishing community. What can we do? When does this Amendment expire? Who should lose their job? Remember, this is a thriving fishery. We have more fish and bigger red snapper than we’ve ever had in the Gulf of Mexico. This is just a money grab by commercial fisherman and those backing them. Meanwhile the folks who pay for fishing licenses are simply getting jobbed. Robin does his best to break it down for us.

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