Public Rambling

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	Atchafalaya Delta WMA 'hogzilla' ends season on high note April 23 at 10:45 am This past season was definitely one of the most exciting for me. I was blessed to take two does, two bucks and three hogs during the bow season at the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area.

	Back-to-back public-land bucks January 02 at 5:24 pm I took some time off of work to enjoy the great outdoors. I was rewarded with some very exciting hunts, seeing both deer and hogs. I saw a nice buck on an afternoon hunt, but despite drawing back twice could not get an open shot. However, it was a good start. The buck rubbed on a tree and freshened a scrape while I watched. My buddy Mike was able to arrow a hog on the same hunt.

	Hits and misses as the rut approaches November 27, 2012 at 10:58 am I have been very busy working, and hunting when I’m not working. Deer and hog season down at the Atchafalaya Delta WMA has been good so far I was able to get a few hunts in, though I did miss some of the cold days when guys turned in quite a few deer. After my opening-day success of taking a doe, deer sightings were few and far between for a while.

	Opening-day success October 04, 2012 at 9:21 am At the age of 54, I still have trouble sleeping the night before the opening day of bow season. I tossed and turned, and was ready to go before the alarm clock went off at 3:55 a.m. I picked up my good buddy Randy Levingston, who was equally as excited as I was. We ran down the river on a cool, slightly foggy ride to the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area.

	Atchafalaya Delta WMA fares well through Isaac September 14, 2012 at 1:25 pm Hurricane Isaac spared the Atchafalaya Delta WMA from any apparent tidal surges or damage. A full day’s scouting trip revealed no more than a few branches down here and there. About the same amount as from any heavy thunderstorm. The dreaded tidal surge never appeared because, for the most part, the wind blew down on the Delta from the north for the majority of the storm. This actually kept water levels lower than normal, and by the time the winds returned from the south as Isaac moved away, the tides became a nonevent.

	Data show flooding had little impact on Atchafalaya Delta deer herd April 16, 2012 at 9:03 am The final statistics for archery deer season at the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area are in, and overall this past season was an average one for the Delta in total numbers. Some interesting stats included that the number of hunter efforts was almost identical for October and December, while November efforts were double that amount. This reflects the fact that the rut usually occurs in late November through early December.

	Heartbreak on the Delta December 22, 2011 at 12:56 pm I found a new stand location at the Atchafalaya Delta WMA, with little hunter pressure and tons of deer and hog sign in the area. My first hunt resulted in the hog kill mentioned in my last article. I was looking forward to finally getting a morning hunt, since the fog was finally not going to be an issue. I set up well before daylight, and could hear a deer walking slowly around feeding about 40 or 50 yards directly in front of my location. This was about 20 minutes before good light.

	Another Delta hog down December 19, 2011 at 8:12 am The fog has really been hampering my bow-hunting plans down at the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area. However, I was able to use my GPS to make it down there for a mid-morning hunt recently. At 10:40 a.m., I saw a medium-sized hog walking on a trail through the tall cut grass. I had him at 35 yards, but he would not stop walking. I held off on the shot, and within a couple of minutes I could hear some loud cracking in the grass. He was coming in right next to my tree stand. He popped out at 15 yards and, already at full draw, I let him have it with my 100-grain Muzzy.

	Hog blast on the Delta December 01, 2011 at 5:17 pm My buddy Randy Levingston and I, used the recent cold, windy weather to stalk up some hogs down at the Delta. Three big ones came out on Randy right before dark. He put an arrow in the largest one and the fun began.

	Are bears becoming aggressive at the Atchafalaya Delta WMA? November 28, 2011 at 9:02 am Shortly after the Big Island at the Atchafalaya Delta WMA opened for deer season, there was a confrontation between a bow hunter and a black bear.

	Hog down in the Delta! November 10, 2011 at 12:50 pm Ten days into the bow season approximately 10 deer were taken. By the end of October, that number had climbed to about 50 deer. At that time, no racked bucks had been taken. But when the Big Island opened on Nov. 1, at least one 147-pound 8-point that I saw a picture of was brought in.

	Hits and misses from the opening week of bow season October 18, 2011 at 1:18 pm October 1 found me up in a ladder stand in the mosquito-infested darkness before daylight at the Atchafalaya Delta WMA. Yes, bow season was about to begin and I was where I wanted to be, trying my best to ignore the skeeters, primed and ready for action. I wouldn’t have to wait very long. At 6:40 a.m., I heard the unmistakable sound of water sloshing and a large animal heading my way. It was approaching from my rear and coming in rather quickly.