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Top 5 turkey WMAs
Hunting opportunities for wild turkeys abound on public land in Louisiana — five Wildlife Management Areas boast a high hunter-success rate. […]
Articles by Jonathan Olivier
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Mastering the marsh
Pursuing bucks in the marshes of Louisiana isn’t for the faint of heart. But tough, uncomfortable conditions weed out lots of hunters, and just about any deer is a trophy. […]
Ducks
Hunting flooded timber for ducks in Louisiana
Although it’s not as prevalent as it once was, flooded timber still provides Louisiana’s hunters with plenty of opportunities to fill their straps. […]
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Ground zero – Ground blind basics for deer
Deer hunting seems to be synonymous with tree stands, and for good reason. Perched high in a tree, a hunter can evade the watchful eye of a whitetail just long enough to draw back his bow, or see far enough in the woods to squeeze off a shot with a rifle. But many hunters are finding that due to the method’s popularity, deer are wising up. […]
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Moving targets — Top tactics for public land deer hunting
It was late summer near Concordia Parish. Temperatures hovering near the 100-degree mark coupled with dense humidity congested the air. The trees, lush with green foliage, offered some shade, but provided little relief for ultra-marathon runner Josh Chauvin. […]
Deer Hunting
Deer Hunting
Early-season gear list
Bow season cranks up early in Southwest Louisiana, and while conditions may not be all that pleasant, these items should make the experience better. […]
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Taking the heat
It takes a diehard deer hunter to brave the elements that are pervasive during Louisiana’s early bow season, which opens for most residents on Monday, Oct. 1. […]
Deer Hunting
Tools for building a food plot
Hand rake: Often one of the first tools you’ll use when building a food plot. Use a hand rake to remove leaves or other debris from your plot before disking. This tool also comes in handy if you decide to conduct a controlled burn. […]
Deer Hunting
Best plants for the food plot
Iron clay peas: These are packed with as much as 30 percent protein, and they’re also drought tolerant. You can plant this variety from now throughout the summer, which will provide food until the beginning of bow season, depending on the size of your herd and plot. […]
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Growing a poor man’s food plot
These days, a deer hunter wears many hats — mechanic, butcher, biologist and farmer. The latter can take up just as much time as hunting does, and some folks dedicate thousands of dollars to growing food for their deer herd. […]
Sidebars
Tools of the Trade
• Box calls
Box calls are the loudest of the bunch. On a windy day, it’s best to use one so the sound carries farther. According to Saale, box calls are the most realistic sounding. “To me, a box call sounds like a turkey more than anything,” he said. “It does all of the vocalizations. It’s got a good high front end with a raspy sound to it.” […]
Sidebars
Sounds of the season
• Gobble
A tom produces this sound as a way to let the hens know where it is during the breeding season. While a gobble can draw in a mature tom looking for a fight, it can also drive away birds that are less dominant. […]
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Turkey talk
There are plenty of ways to call in a gobbler — but these proven tactics to kill will help you seal the deal. […]
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Shot placement
“The target area you’re aiming for is about the size of a grape fruit,” Lafleur said. For that reason, shot placement is everything. A heart and lung shot is ideal, but one that disables the bird due with an arrow in the body so that it can’t fly away is also lethal.
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Stick it to a tom
Harmon Carson will tell you that turkeys are smarter than you think. He should know — he’s been chasing them from Louisiana to Texas since he was in high school.