Marksville Rut

Rut around Marksville is usually around Christmas to well into January, something like Jan 21. Biologists say that the deer around the Miss/Atch/Red River areas rut later so that their fawns are dropped later protecting them from spring floods.

January in the Lake Ophelia area is usually considered to be the best month for the big trophy bucks.

I use to belong to the Madam Lee Hunting climb, now known as paradise gun and rod club. The deer that we use to kill we rediculous out there and Lake Ophelia was the best kept secret until:
1) they clear cut and let ppl hunt that same year. It was a slaughter on the first draw hunt. Never heard so many gun shots and they were using muzzleloaders!!!!! I walked Ophelia the day after and found 5 different blood trails in a 400 yard distance. Made me sick.
2) that guy posted a pic of his mobster buck in Louisiana sportsman. It was no longer a secret and everyone and their brother was bow hunting it and killing everything that moved.

I went back last year for a Jan hunt and it was nothing like it use to be. There were so many hunters that I left after the first morning hunt. I miss the good ole days because that place had some true monster bucks! I never shot a deer smaller than a 7 point out there and even killed a nontypical.