The_Fit_Ness_Monster
Well-Known Member
Try west bay, you can go decades and not see a deer lol
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Louisiana Saddle Hunter's Thread
- Thread starter kyler1945
- Start date
cjr4497
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2020
- Messages
- 121
You wouldn't be saying that if you have seen the West Bay facebook page lately. This years has been incredible.
The_Fit_Ness_Monster
Well-Known Member
I don’t have Facebook but that’s amazing if they really did turn the numbers around.
After this season, your first comment will still likely hold true, lol.
Joyce is the most inaccessible piece of property I've ever tried to access. Whatever is in there, can stay in there!
would anyone here in area 4 or 9 be willing to take a rookie along to scout/hunt? Maybe apprentice a little? I hate to be so forthcoming but I’ve just been struggling to get on deer at all and am really wanting to learn what it is I’m missing to put the puzzle together.
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Dmathews87
Well-Known Member
im no one to be following and learning ''the way'' from as im still trying to figure it out as well half the time but im never opposed to meeting up on some public when schedules allow for it...
Sounds like you're also hitting a spot i was in years ago..hunting WMAs excusively here in Se LA...its disheartening for sure and i think we have some of the worst deer hunting in the country...low deer pop and the vast majority of the WMAs just get hammered. I went a couple seasons with nothing to show, took time and ALOT of scouting. I can almost guarantee the problem is not you and what you know and dont know,its the location. As good a deer hunter Dan Infalt is, he's not going to kill a deer in a tree in the target parking lot because from what i hear target has low deer herds lol...my point is, if\when you can, take a trip up north, out of state even and you will be surprised out how much you really do know and are capable of. I use the same tactics when i take a trip as i do down here and i always have a ton more deer sightings vs here,its just what it is unless you can get on some private land.
The_Fit_Ness_Monster
Well-Known Member
[QUOTE="Dmathews87, post: 792155
Sounds like you're also hitting a spot i was in years ago..hunting WMAs excusively here in Se LA...its disheartening for sure and i think we have some of the worst deer hunting in the country...low deer pop and the vast majority of the WMAs just get hammered. I went a couple seasons with nothing to show, took time and ALOT of scouting. I can almost guarantee the problem is not you and what you know and dont know,its the location. As good a deer hunter Dan Infalt is, he's not going to kill a deer in a tree in the target parking lot because from what i hear target has low deer herds lol...my point is, if\when you can, take a trip up north.
[/QUOTE]
I can 2nd this, grew up in SE LA and never white tail hunted there and there’s a reason for it, I always made my drive to area 2 and hunt N. LA. I moved here bc I was tired of driving lol as far as filling tags just go sit in the woods here for any amount of time and even a bad hunter can get lucky every few days. But the mature bucks still take the effort they always have to get to.
Sounds like you're also hitting a spot i was in years ago..hunting WMAs excusively here in Se LA...its disheartening for sure and i think we have some of the worst deer hunting in the country...low deer pop and the vast majority of the WMAs just get hammered. I went a couple seasons with nothing to show, took time and ALOT of scouting. I can almost guarantee the problem is not you and what you know and dont know,its the location. As good a deer hunter Dan Infalt is, he's not going to kill a deer in a tree in the target parking lot because from what i hear target has low deer herds lol...my point is, if\when you can, take a trip up north.
[/QUOTE]
I can 2nd this, grew up in SE LA and never white tail hunted there and there’s a reason for it, I always made my drive to area 2 and hunt N. LA. I moved here bc I was tired of driving lol as far as filling tags just go sit in the woods here for any amount of time and even a bad hunter can get lucky every few days. But the mature bucks still take the effort they always have to get to.
At what point would y’all stop hunting at a specific WMA/NWR?
I’m five or six sits at BC NWR and no deer while on the saddle. I’m wondering if I just stop trying here and refocus elsewhere?
I’m five or six sits at BC NWR and no deer while on the saddle. I’m wondering if I just stop trying here and refocus elsewhere?
The_Fit_Ness_Monster
Well-Known Member
Eh depends, as far as this season have to take into account the drought we had, even up north LA I’m seeing good deer get killed but few and far between the numbers as last year. That dry spell really spread em out, but these recent rains have put a good bit of water back. But don’t get discouraged, I’ve gone months without a sighting much I’ve heard of people going seasons without seeing. 5 or 6 sits and no deer is just a long week in Jan lol also to add have to consider the WMA, that stretch with no deer in BC is pretty par. If I’m in Tensas and have 5 wits and no deer I’d be worried.
Dmathews87
Well-Known Member
Im terrible at this. I will sit the crap out of a place, but at some point you do have to question am i better off doing 50 sits here because its convenient or 5 sits somewhere else that i have to drive a couple hours to.
the problem I’m having in BC NWR is that’s copy and paste woods - big time. Literally all looks the same. Flat, thick, bedding in the saw briar thickets, sloughs and swamps cut across… copy and pasted. I just cannot figure out where the deer are. No poop anywhere. Found a rub and slight feed sign- nothing. Idk, it makes me feel crazy!! I know they’re in here!!
cjr4497
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2020
- Messages
- 121
Yeah, that place took a hard dive. We used to see a lot of deer squirrel hunting but have seen none the last few years. All of the public along the Mississippi has taken a bad hit from pressure, bears, and hogs. Beouf isn't far and has the best deer population per forested acre in the state. Sonny Gilbert, formerly Sicily Island, is right there too and has a solid population ass well.
I see deer on the WMA we have a camp on one out of every 10 sits if I am lucky. If we didn't have the camp I wouldn't bother. I have hunted there for 27 years and have had the camp for 21. It is nothing like it used to be. People that don't think our public lands in certain areas don't have a problem just don't get it.
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Why are y’all sitting in a tree if you’re not seeing deer?
Dmathews87
Well-Known Member
I knew it lol. I can't tell you how many times I hear you in my head saying find the deer in the flesh lol
I’ve averaged two deer a year off of Louisiana public land the last decade. Most buck, most with a bow. Most of those years I spend a lot of time out of state too, and probably would kill 3-4 if I didn’t have those trips.
I spent the half a decade before that sitting in trees looking at squirrels, and other people. 2 deer to show for it.
Sure I got better. I also started walking.
I spent the half a decade before that sitting in trees looking at squirrels, and other people. 2 deer to show for it.
Sure I got better. I also started walking.
Well, I keep thinking I find good sign and see nothing so I guess I’d better get my ass walking too. And maybe I’m not gonna stop walking until I end up completely out of area 4 and 9 where I live!
The old saying is 80% of the deer will use 20% of the property. If you already know you are on a low population, hard to hunt area you might want to refine your scouting approach. Use lidar on spartan forge, google earth, onx and any other mapping tool you think will help and isolate only the spots that have multiple terrain features and/or vegetation edges or intersections. Then hike from spot to spot until you find one with obvious use. Mark it, pick a tree and look at your access. Then take off to the next spot. Dont waste time meandering around looking for every little bit of sign you can find, focus on the highest odds spots and isolate the ones showing current use. At the map indicated spots, look for the reasons why deer may be at that spot vs others. It may be a mast source or may be a preferred browse that other spots didnt have. Those things can and will change throughout the season. Make note of them as well because it could be helpful next season. If you check all the highest odds spots and dont find something worth hunting, relocate to a different area and start over.
The_Fit_Ness_Monster
Well-Known Member
Walk your way to area 2 it’s worth it.
