(Updated 2/11/12)

The following is a rotation list for duck hunting on Lake Stillhouse Hollow near Salado and Granger Lake near Taylor. I, Randy Rowley, can take up to two adult hunters on my boat and no more than one dog.  If we’re walking in I can take three adult hunters with me.  I will hunt twice in November, twice in December, and three times in January.  Therefore, between 14 – 21 hunters will get to hunt with me each year (depending on whether we take my boat or walk in; this depends on how boat/blind shy the birds have been – if they’re being boat/blind shy we’ll walk in).

Stillhouse is administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Consequently a TPWD Public Hunting Permit is not required nor is a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers lake hunting permit (see http://www.swf-wc.usace.army.mil/stillhouse/Recreation/Hunting.asp). If we decide to hunt Stillhouse we will hunt in the Union Grove Wildlife Management Area (WMA), near or on the island (the side depends on the direction of the wind).  Stillhouse is 11 miles further than Granger.

Granger is also administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  However, the WMA’s are leased to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, consequently, a TPWD Public Lands Hunting Permit ($48/year) is required.  However, a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers lake hunting permit is not required.  If we decide to hunt Granger we will hunt in the San Gabriel or Sorefinger WMAs.

My boat has a camo blind that sits on top of it. We pull it over from one side to another and it has three holes that we poke our heads out of (we look like prairie dogs sticking their heads out of their holes). If the ducks are acting boat/blind shy on a particular hunt we get out of the boat and either hunt from stools with camo stick blinds in front of and behind us, use natural cover, or stand in the water next to trees. If my boat is out of commission there are places where we can walk in at both lakes (about a mile hike).  If there is a trend of them being boat shy we’ll stop taking my boat and walk in.

All that you need to bring is your license and stamps, gun, shells, calls (optional), chest waders (see below for wader recommendations), camo hunting clothes (including face mask – absolutely essential), snacks (optional), and drinks (optional). We won’t stop anywhere along the way, so if you want something to eat get it before we meet. We’ll split the truck and boat gas and boat oil – it will be around $12 each for four hunters and around $16 for three hunters (Granger will be a little less). I have plenty of decoys, a Mojo duck, and a wind duck (that I only use when it’s windy). I recommend Winchester Xpert shells in 2 shot. I also recommend that you bring a waterproof jacket as we often get wet on our return trip to the boat ramp at Stillhouse.

After a hunter goes on a hunt he or she is moved to the bottom of the rotation. If I contact a hunter and he or she cannot go I will contact the next person on the list.

Being on this rotation is a privilege and is not a FCS membership benefit. A person can be removed from the rotation for any of the following reasons (this list is not all inclusive):

•  Not hunting in a safe manner, including deliberately not following my instructions during a hunt.
•  Not helping during a hunt.
• Not controlling your dog during a hunt.
• Repeatedly shooting my decoys/mojo/wind duck.
•  Indicating that he or she will attend a hunt and then not showing up.
•  Repeatedly canceling at the last minute.
•  Not returning my phone calls and/or e-mails

Presently the following people are on the Duck Hunt Rotation list:

1. Roy Brigman (as he has a boat he always will have an opportunity to go)
2. Bill Smith
3. Bruce Crockett
4. Mark Dillow
5. Kevin Wall (either lake)
6. Kenneth Kidd (either lake)
7. Ryan Rowley
8. Justin Painter
9. Randall Klimek
10. Jeff Reece
11. Larry Dowden
12. Harry Biggs
13. Ron Denison
14. Scott Timpany
15. Robby Wilson
16. Brian Suter (either lake)
17. Bill Bebee (either lake)
18. Jerry Stafford
19. Wayne Weilnau (either lake)
20. Thomas Palmer
21. Ken Miller
22. Jim Gault
23. Paul Irwin (either lake)
24. Charles Cutchens
25. Jim McGee
26. Greg Moerbe
27. Tim Price

Let me know at randy@fcs-texas.org if you would like to be added to this rotation.

Wader Recommendations