Started By
Message

Tensas NWR

Posted on 10/3/24 at 7:25 pm
Posted by jlong4635
Member since Oct 2024
19 posts
Posted on 10/3/24 at 7:25 pm
Anyone got high level info they can provide on Tensas NWR deer hunting? I won one of the November 29/30 rifle lottery hunts for this year. I'm not looking for anyone's honey hole or secret spot, more the less general info. Is a boat necessary? How much of the land is accessible by foot? Etc.

I plan to make a few scouting trips, but figured I would check in for any folks familiar with the area. Thanks
Posted by misterc
St. George
Member since Sep 2014
739 posts
Posted on 10/3/24 at 7:27 pm to
Mass deer kill this year, better off at Sherburne....

Turkeys all died too....
Posted by Old Man and a Porch
Member since Dec 2023
680 posts
Posted on 10/3/24 at 7:43 pm to
Sounds like a war at daylight.
Posted by Ron Cheramie
The Cajun Hedgehog
Member since Aug 2016
5522 posts
Posted on 10/3/24 at 7:57 pm to
It’s full of hogs. Make sure the hog you are shooting at isn’t a bear

You can take a boat, an atv, or walk a mile in but you still can’t get away from all the coonasses that have taken over
Posted by jlong4635
Member since Oct 2024
19 posts
Posted on 10/3/24 at 8:12 pm to
Anyone got any idea how many folks they draw for the lottery hunts? I didn't find much info on the internet. I tried calling the NWR office a few times with no answer
Posted by misterc
St. George
Member since Sep 2014
739 posts
Posted on 10/3/24 at 9:02 pm to
I went with a rifle 9 years ago on a lottery hunt. It was very crowded, I refused to set foot on the property during an active gun season after that hunt. I have a close friend that owns a small tract\camp off sharkey rd So have been a handful of times since then. Killed a couple bucks up there in bow season. Killed 6 hogs in one hunt with my bow, only stopped because I saved my last arrow. Im going to go for the first time in a couple years early November. I try to hunt on weekdays. I don't scout, I walk my arse off until I find deer then setup on them. Having a boat could help you but there will be people in every corner of that place lottery weekend.
Posted by geauxbrown
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2006
24824 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 12:13 am to
Coonasses love to tell us north Louisiana isn’t really Louisiana, yet they sure enjoy killing our “Arkansas” deer.

Like someone posted, you can’t escape em.
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
7153 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 6:07 am to
Wear lots of orange. Ride the wheeler for a while. Walk for a while. Climb a tree. Your hunt is too early, but there’ll always be a few killed.
Posted by jlong4635
Member since Oct 2024
19 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 6:34 am to
Mehhh, starting to sound like it may not be worth the efforts.

Keep any relevant info coming, I appreciate all of the feedback so far.

I have a late season elk hunt in WY just before this lottery hunt so I won't be too eager to meet the orange army at day light.
Posted by Ron Cheramie
The Cajun Hedgehog
Member since Aug 2016
5522 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 7:17 am to
quote:

Mehhh, starting to sound like it may not be worth the efforts.


I wouldn’t say that. It’s just a far cry from what it used to be. Hogs have taken over the place

If you’ve never been it’s worth seeing. It’s a unique place and there are really good deer that come out of there every year

The better hunt is usually the second hunt due to the later rut over there.

I haven’t hunted there in some time but the places I saw the most deer were always right when I was about to get back into the boat or when I was almost to my truck. Some of the deer stay really close to the river edge and really close to the main roads. If you do go by boat, be real careful getting out the boat especially after a rain. Have seen many people slide down the bank and catch a wet arse first thing in the morning

There is tons of hard mast over there but you have to find the one they are preferring that time of year. Certain trees grow in the lowlands and certain trees grow on the “ridges”. A ridge over there is only about 3 feet elevation difference. Pay attention to honey locust trees that time of year. If you can find one that is still dropping I have had lots of luck hunting those

If there is any water in the sloughs the deer also fee very comfortable near water and getting between two sloughs has worked well for me You my even find a persimmon that still has fruit on it

All that to say don’t get discouraged but seriously make sure that pig you are shooting isn’t a bear
Posted by jlong4635
Member since Oct 2024
19 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 7:43 am to
Ron,

Thanks for the detailed info.




Posted by SaDaTayMoses
Member since Oct 2005
4541 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 7:45 am to
Get near a cut over in a saddle or lock on, unless you find a good tree to climb. A lot of the trees on the edges of cutovers are scraggly and hard to climb. People will make the deer move.
Posted by LSUballs
RayVegas LA
Member since Feb 2008
39818 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 7:59 am to
You really need a 25+ yo square body Chevy towing a two toned green bumper pull camper, a 1983 Big Red w/ knobbies, (3) 4' tall homemade ladder stands, 8 cases of Beast, a reclaimed Weber kettle, jambalaya pot, gallon of Early Times, iron site 30-30. 11 ice chests, shite paper, a half breed Feist, your uncle T- Earl, carton of Reds and a Buck knife.
Posted by misterc
St. George
Member since Sep 2014
739 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 8:11 am to
quote:

Mehhh, starting to sound like it may not be worth the efforts.



I would still go, It really is pretty woods. Go have a good time, there are some massive deer killed up there every year. It could be you....

I have multiple prime private hunting tracts and Im still going to go wander around there for a few days this season.
Posted by White Bear
AT WORK
Member since Jul 2014
17164 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 8:15 am to
quote:

You really need a 25+ yo square body Chevy towing a two toned green bumper pull camper, a 1983 Big Red w/ knobbies, (3) 4' tall homemade ladder stands, 8 cases of Beast, a reclaimed Weber kettle, jambalaya pot, gallon of Early Times, iron site 30-30. 11 ice chests, shite paper, a half breed Feist, your uncle T- Earl, carton of Reds and a Buck knife.
Witnessing this shite will give a resident the 1000 yard stare, baw.
Posted by Koolazzkat
Behind the Tupelo gum tree
Member since May 2021
2949 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 8:19 am to
Sleep in and hunt from 10-2.
Posted by White Bear
AT WORK
Member since Jul 2014
17164 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 8:47 am to
quote:

Sleep in and hunt from 10-2.
or hunt all day Find an actively fed nuttall or overcup flat.
This post was edited on 10/4/24 at 8:48 am
Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
15549 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 8:49 am to
It's hard to judge the size of a solo doe in the palmettos, especially if it's the only deer you've seen all week.
Posted by jlong4635
Member since Oct 2024
19 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 12:21 pm to
I don't miss weaving in between palmettos from when I previously hunted Plaquemines Parish.

I'm sure I can put something together near a cutover or some grown up CRP fields.

Posted by choupiquesushi
yaton rouge
Member since Jun 2006
33637 posts
Posted on 10/4/24 at 2:35 pm to
quote:

Sleep in and hunt from 10-2.
i know someone very well that does this and does very well
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram