Deer of the Year

Deer of the Year

Sighting of small buck turns into St. Landry Parish monster deer

December 21, 2011 Andy Crawford

Steve “Moonie” Chelette was excited when he headed to the woods on Friday (Dec. 16). The weather had turned nasty, with temperatures dropping and a drizzling rain setting in, and he had seen a small buck the day before and was making a move to try and cut it off.

“I had a ladder stand on the other side of property where I thought he was, and I went there looking for him,” Chelette said.

What showed up that afternoon turned out to be a monster 18-pointer that has been green scored at 166 2/8 inches Boone & Crockett.[…]

Deer of the Year

Perseverance pays off with 180-inch Red River giant

December 7, 2011 Glynn Harris

The skies were threatening with thunder rumbling in the distance the mid-November morning David Long first spotted the huge Red River Parish buck, which later green scored in the 180s.

“I was sitting in my box stand overlooking a shooting lane where I had a tripod feeder set up,” Long said. “I saw three does hurry across the lane at about 100 yards.

“I looked to the edge of the lane and there he stood.”[…]

Deer of the Year

Giles Island produces another monster buck

December 6, 2011 Andy Crawford

Ricky Rogillio saw that huge buck the first time during an early season bow hunt, when he took a client to Giles Island Hunting Club. It was monstrous, with two drop tines dripping from the left main beam.

“I saw videos of it, and I knew I wanted to come back,” the Walker hunter said. “I worried it wouldn’t be there when I got back.”

He left the island last Wednesday (Nov. 30) with the 175-inch rack cooling in the back of his truck.[…]

Deer of the Year

Tensas Parish trophy killed during hunt that almost didn’t happen

December 1, 2011 Darren Digby

Hunters dream of that one defining hunt, when everything comes together and culminates in a wallhanger to make buddies jealous. Greg Krause’s day came on Nov. 13, but he almost passed the opportunity.

“When I stepped out the camp that morning, I was greeted by temperatures in the 60s, a howling wind and, worst of all, a big, bright full moon shining down on the area,” Krause said. “I thought to myself, ‘There’s no way I’m going to see any deer this morning with that big moon out,’ but then again you can’t kill them from the camp!”[…]

Deer of the Year

200-class Madison Parish buck killed

November 30, 2011 Glynn Harris

Corey May was very familiar with a buck that was making its home on his dad’s 3,000-acre Madison Parish farm. Trail cam photos had allowed the 25-year-old May to keep tabs on the deer; he’d shown up on May’s trail cameras for two years prior.[…]