Louisiana Saddle Hunter's Thread

[Crawdaddy4]

I never hunted cocodrie before but back I’ve always heard good things about it, but if your going that far north might as well go to Tensas or Ophelia or Kisatchie around Pollock section.

I’ve considered Kisatchie.

I saw deer almost every time I sat on D’arbonne NWR. Had a buddy kill a nice 8. Deer population and hunter ratio is much better as you move north.

 

[jgleas114]

Monday morning I shot this guy …

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dmathews87]

I’ve considered Kisatchie.

I saw deer almost every time I sat on D’arbonne NWR. Had a buddy kill a nice 8. Deer population and hunter ratio is much better as you move north.

north is def the ticket for us down here. wish i had the picture, but a buddy of mine killed an absolute giant on Tensas...ill have to FB stalk him and find it...

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

I’ve considered Kisatchie.

I saw deer almost every time I sat on D’arbonne NWR. Had a buddy kill a nice 8. Deer population and hunter ratio is much better as you move north.

Yeah I grew up around Lafayette area but all my hunting was either Tensas, buckhorn/big lake, Jackson-Bienvielle (when it was public) Boeuf. In recent years and Now that I live up here my eyes (along with a lot of others) have been opened to this northern part of Kisatchie. But Tensas/Buckhorn is still and I think mostly always be my favorite places to hunt. Biggest deer I’ve ever seen both doe and bucks and most numbers have been there and in recent years the Natchitoches side of kisatchie and private out that way.

 

[Dmathews87]

Yeah I grew up around Lafayette area but all my hunting was either Tensas, buckhorn/big lake, Jackson-Bienvielle (when it was public) Boeuf. In recent years and Now that I live up here my eyes (along with a lot of others) have been opened to this northern part of Kisatchie. But Tensas/Buckhorn is still and I think mostly always be my favorite places to hunt. Biggest deer I’ve ever seen both doe and bucks and most numbers have been there and in recent years the Natchitoches side of kisatchie and private out that way.

when would you say is the best time to go to Tensas??

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

when would you say is the best time to go to Tensas??

Any time, it usually opens the first week of November but buckhorn and big lake are pretty much same woods just the south end of it and they open the 1st, I’ve always done my best from opening day until the first rifle split around thanksgiving, and I usually didn’t hunt again until first week of Jan( before this year I’d never be in the woods when rifle hunters were).

 

[Crawdaddy4]

Any time, it usually opens the first week of November but buckhorn and big lake are pretty much same woods just the south end of it and they open the 1st, I’ve always done my best from opening day until the first rifle split around thanksgiving, and I usually didn’t hunt again until first week of Jan( before this year I’d never be in the woods when rifle hunters were).

I still try to avoid the gun weeks/weekends. I only care to bow hunt. The rifle just doesn’t do anything for me anymore.

 

[mschultz373]

If Tensas is anything like Bogue Chitto NWR down here, that second rifle split is a hammering of biblical proportions in terms of pressure.

 

[Dmathews87]

If Tensas is anything like Bogue Chitto NWR down here, that second rifle split is a hammering of biblical proportions in terms of pressure.

sounds like the thanksgiving rifle season at sherburne...

 

[Crawdaddy4]

when would you say is the best time to go to Tensas??

When the damn mosquitoes die!!!

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

I still try to avoid the gun weeks/weekends. I only care to bow hunt. The rifle just doesn’t do anything for me anymore.

Yeah this year will be my first time rifle hunting since I was a kid and it’s more so I just wanted a deer rifle in case I ever needed one ever. It’s hard for me to put the bow down either way, especially in the woods I’m hunting, any deer I can shoot with a rifle I can shoot with my bow with the exception of shooting through bushes and stick but as far as distance in the woods, 60yds is rare and pushing it where I hunt.

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

If Tensas is anything like Bogue Chitto NWR down here, that second rifle split is a hammering of biblical proportions in terms of pressure.

Yeah, I’ve heard stories of multiple people of being in a tree before dark and once light being in sight of 1-3 other guys and yet also everyone killing sooo there’s that. The everyone killing may be days of old but I think the rifle split is still an anthill

 

[Sugcain04]

I’m legit considering making a trip to Bayou Cocodrie NWR or Yancey WMA during the rut. It has an outstanding deer population and deer quality. I’ve talked to several hunters who make trips there. It’s not near as pressured as SE LA.

Yancey will be a lot harder to hunt than you think.....the best time to hunt these "river" reserves are when the Mississippi is flooded up to the levee. Dry years like we've been having have the deer spread back out. Bayou Macon is another one that comes to mind....when the river is up to the levee, RUN to hunt these places.

 

[Sugcain04]

Yeah, I’ve heard stories of multiple people of being in a tree before dark and once light being in sight of 1-3 other guys and yet also everyone killing sooo there’s that. The everyone killing may be days of old but I think the rifle split is still an anthill

If Tensas is anything like Bogue Chitto NWR down here, that second rifle split is a hammering of biblical proportions in terms of pressure.

I grew up hunting Tensas and had some of the best hunts of my life up there and I officially quit hunting 3 years ago.....best decision I've made in a while. A piece of my heart is still up there but until the pressure slows down for bow season then it's just not fun anymore. I blame that campground and facebook for the downfall of that place. And yes they will always be good deer up there because it is actively managed with timber harvest but the glory years are over.

 

[Crawdaddy4]

Yancey will be a lot harder to hunt than you think.....the best time to hunt these "river" reserves are when the Mississippi is flooded up to the levee. Dry years like we've been having have the deer spread back out. Bayou Macon is another one that comes to mind....when the river is up to the levee, RUN to hunt these places.

What do you think makes them "hard"? Is it access, competition with other hunters, or trying to locate deer?

 

[Sugcain04]

Less water just SPREADS them out!

 

[Dmathews87]

Yancey will be a lot harder to hunt than you think.....the best time to hunt these "river" reserves are when the Mississippi is flooded up to the levee. Dry years like we've been having have the deer spread back out. Bayou Macon is another one that comes to mind....when the river is up to the levee, RUN to hunt these places.

interesting enough, a buddy of mine just texted me wanting to plan a thanksgiving trip out there...will be my first time

 

[Sugcain04]

I'd probably do a Red Dirt, Fort Polk, or Catahoula NWP hunt for Thanksgiving. That's just my perspective; hunt area 3/8/2 until December then move to Area 1/6 for December / January.

 

[mschultz373]

Less water just SPREADS them out!

I've wondered if this is true for other areas during this drought? Particularly swamps and marshes that have opened up.

although I have also thought the OPPOSITE in that they cluster around whatever little water there is, moreso in the bottomlands.... - but I haven't been able to confirm/disconfirm either way.

 

[Dmathews87]

I'd probably do a Red Dirt, Fort Polk, or Catahoula NWP hunt for Thanksgiving. That's just my perspective; hunt area 3/8/2 until December then move to Area 1/6 for December / January.

thats just the trip him and his dad make every year so i either tag along or dont lol...in the past ive been doing sicily island around this time...