I bought my old guy hunting and fishing license today it was $5. I can take 6 deer and two turkeys along with limits of small game, waterfowl and upland birds. Hogs are limitless. That is basic Louisiana rules but it requires study as things change from Private Land to Wildlife Management areas.
First is Dove Season the first weekend in September. I’m ready for that accumulated shells for the 12, 20 and 410 for years. Louisiana is not however the stellar Dove state.
I may Teal hunt this year as I found a good place, I need to find a partner with a dog remembering that Kade, an old hunting student of mine has a Boykin Spaniel.
I just ordered my 3rd Vortex Crossfire II, a 3x9x50mm it’s going on the Henry Single Shot 45-70 expected any day in July. This will be the first Big Game rifle to go afield as the Primitive weapon season for deer opens first. There will be extensive range testing first for the new rifle of which I have high hopes.
I will hunt with all my deer rifles over the season depending on the situation. The strategy is simple, light calibers in the morning and the 45-70 in the afternoon. The little CZ-527 in 7.62×39 with proper soft point bullets will kill any buck in the woods being pleasant to shooting and very accurate. The 284 Winchester, 308 Winchester and 30-06 will too but sometimes they run a bit and I don’t like to be stuck in the woods after dark in a Louisiana Swamp, so I will tell you from experience, “You can be sure with a 45-70.”
To make sure I recently purchased a Garmin GPS I really like it the GPS will get you back to the truck when the Sun goes down and you get turned around. There are too many things you can step in or on you don’t want to think about. I carry two high power flash lights and a hack knife (large Bowie or Kukri) to hack your way out of a briar patch. I do have a Laser Range Finder, and a good Cannon digital camera to fill out the hunting pack. I take great pride in a good out door photograph that tells the story.
I don’t stockpile ammo like some paranoid, but I have a combat load for each weapon just in case. I have heard about massing ammo for practice. I shoot a lot of 22 but have no problem adjusting to the High Powers. But this is about hunting, so I maintain about 100 rounds per firearm.
Up until now I have hunted in the highlands of Louisiana, but now I’m going to have to get a good pair of muck boots so that’s my next purchase.
I have a full set of butchering tool as I do everything myself including a commercial meat grinder. I was taught in Alaska to be a meat cutter in Game Warden School in the Army. This really came in handy. Its really not that hard if you don’t mind getting your hands dirty. It also helps if you learn how to sharpen a knife.
Insect repellant is a must, the only thing that works back in there is 100% Deet I have a way to mask the smell I will show you next time.
I use a hiking staff, made it myself out of a Japanese Bo Staff of solid Red Oak. It has kept me from falling many times with the climber on my back and has many other uses. One thing I learned from some of the Mid Eastern guys (The ones on our side) is the use of the Shemagh. There is a whole class on its use on the net and it make great camo for the turkey hunter. It is a lot more than just a scarf.
Well that’s all I can think of right now but this discussion will continue for now start your own list and ..Pass it on.
By John Simeone