Apex Predator

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	The Florida Keys vs. Louisiana’s coast May 17 at 2:39 pm Recently I went on a 10-day fishing excursion for my honeymoon to a place where an island is known as a key and the ocean view will take your breath away. A few friends told me this is the only fishery that can compare to coastal Louisiana.

	Tracking heroics on my brother's first Louisiana buck January 23 at 11:54 am My younger brother has been joining me on a few public-land gun hunts over the past few seasons on Red River WMA. I've been trying my hardest to get him on a deer, but even though he's seen five racked bucks from the stand, putting one down is never easy, as no shots were ever offered. However, these brief teases got him hooked, and he’s returned each season with the longing of victory. Would this finally be his year?

	The Broken Bridge Buck January 03 at 12:00 pm My brother joined me for a few days of hunting Red River Wildlife Management Area during the bucks-only season. Rain was in the forecast, but he drove up early for a morning hunt, and we decided to tough it out in our ground blinds. Only the rain never let up, and with the radar showing no end in sight we hightailed it out, soaking wet after a couple of hours. Instead of waiting out the rain in boredom, my fiancee joined me on a tough, rainy trail run through the muddy paths of Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge. I was wearing myself out, not knowing of the true test of my fitness that was yet to come.

	Recurve hog and bonus hog December 04, 2012 at 11:50 am My last article featured a hunt during which I chased down and shot two hogs. I was disappointed my camera was switched off when it happened. It just so happened when I least expected it a similar chase ensued while the film was rolling. Thanksgiving Day, I awoke early (at 3 a.m.) and made the drive to Red River WMA for a day of bow hunting before the woods became filled with the weekend gun crowd.

	Not enough arrows, just enough shells November 07, 2012 at 9:35 am A few weeks ago I had the easiest shot at a dozen hogs, and I was stuck in a tree with no arrows left. I never hunt with less than a full quiver of six arrows, but before I made that hunt I took a quick shot with my bow and noticed the site was knocked off. It took me awhile to allen wrench the pins back into position, and running late for the hunt I forgot three arrows in the target. This is a mistake I’ll never make again.

	Close call with deer calls October 17, 2012 at 9:56 am The weekend started slow for me. Laura had a hog walk behind her within 30 yards on Friday (Oct. 12) morning, but she couldn’t see it in the thick underbrush from her ground blind. She heard it softly grunt several times. I had no action on either hunt Friday or Saturday morning. Things picked up on my midday stalk when I came across this huge king snake and a large 8-foot gator in a small 6-inch deep hole about 10 yards across. It was by far the longest king snake I ever seen. They are such pretty and friendly snakes, unlike the gator who wasn’t very happy to be stuck in a small place with me nearby.

	Hits, misses and predator control October 09, 2012 at 9:31 am I couldn’t wait to hunt opening day, but as the season approached road blocks were getting in the way of my plans. My water heater had busted and then broke in my camp the previous week, spewing water everywhere. Of course, nothing built so long ago would cooperate, so breaking walls and redoing electric work was in order. Then, come to find out, the copper pipes weren’t flared properly and the pipes had been slowly leaking for years. After many grueling hours, I was able to get the new one installed right before the season began.

	Preseason pumpup: 2012-13 hunting season holds promise September 18, 2012 at 2:53 pm Two years ago, I jumped some deer and a streak of white caught my eye. I thought surely that was brighter than just the white of a tail, but the thick cover of the area left me uncertain. After setting a camera in the area, the following week my suspicions of the white streak were confirmed when I had multiple pictures of this pretty Mississippi public-lands piebald.

	Weather Web sites and fish end with engagement August 14, 2012 at 10:31 am Having a good day of fishing usually comes down to one thing: the weather. Whether you’re catching plenty or not, fishing is always fun unless Mother Nature turns against you By using the help of weather Web sites, those turbulent, windblown seas and deadly lightning can be easily avoided with a few simple clicks. Over the past few weeks, I’ve made many successful fishing trips that I’ve been posting reports on. There was only one day I wasn’t able to fish at all. That was the night the Harbor Light burned down.

	Birthday trout trip and boiled crab cuisine July 10, 2012 at 9:54 am I planned on a quick freshwater crabbing in June, combining some fishing for catfish while waiting for my nets to fill with blue paws. That trip was abruptly shortened when my yellow lab’s ear was pierced by a fish hook as she jumped in the boat before the rods were moved from their road positions. Of course, she pulled it out herself ripping the ear completely open in a T shape over an inch up, down and outwards. I was hoping for blood in the boat from fish, not the dog.

	Fishing trip makes bachelor party despite dire weather warnings May 30, 2012 at 1:41 pm With the weekend set, I was eagerly anticipating a full-out ruthless fishing assault at my lil’ brothers bachelor party in Cocodrie. Unexpectedly, there was a last minute curve ball thrown at us: A huge, swirling low-pressure system making its way from Texas was planning to curve toward us all three days.

	Moonlight mudbuggin' April 25, 2012 at 1:42 pm Many people love to go set-netting for crawfish, but few go during the prime feeding hours, when net frames bend from mudbugs spilling over all four sides as you rush toward the bank. Yes, you can fill a sack with a half dozen nets in less than an hour when hitting it right. By “right,” I mean “night.”