What is Tensas like?

Primitive is a lottery now?

Last time I hunted there was for a primitive weekend and it was a free for all. Said I would never go back for a gun hunt there. Lots of humans.

I used to make a primitive camping trip there every fall break during college to bow hunt. It’s some of the most beautiful woods in Louisiana in my opinion. I always found there was a lot of sign around the rut, more than I was ever used to seeing in south Louisiana.

To answer your questions: yes there are bears. I’ve seen a couple while hunting, one walking back from my stand. They won’t mess with you. Pack a pistol if you need the added confidence, but I never did.

I can’t remember mosquitos ever being bad.

Palmetto’s; some woods don’t have many other areas have a lot. It’s such a big reserve, you can find what you like and adapt. The places I’ve hunted were never anything like a Thistlethwaite level of palmetto coverage.

Wouldn’t be a bad idea to pack hip boots, it really depends on how much rain they have received. There are some bottoms and slews that can hold water.

The gun hunts are too overcrowded for me, but I wish you luck. Don’t sleep on the CRP fields, be mobile. Id suggest bringing a pirogue / kayak. There are some areas you need to cross bayous to access.

Damn good deer in Tensas. Go in early and come out late….when everyone else is leaving is when you see the monsters. I would definetly plan to hunt in hip boots.

Try to be aware because, like most public hunting, people are very territorial there.

It is basically endless flooded palmetto flats and ridges of dry land. Be careful of rattle snakes on the ridges!

Try to avoid the Ville Platte people

We had a camp over there for years and have so many memories of those true muzzleloader days. So many missss and wet powder and misfires and when you got back to the camp in the evening you would hear people shoot to clear their barrels

I shot at a deer less than 30 yards and it hesitated to go off by maybe a half second and I shot 5 foot over that deer. When the smoke cleared it was still standing there and here I am trying to reload my musket with it standing there looking at me

Used to be open sight black powder and if you could get a 10” group at 50 yards you were golden Had to really focus on keeping your powder and cap
dry

The. They allowed inlines and no magnification scopes With those pyrotechnic pellets it was a game changer Now it’s basically rifle season

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Will I get eaten by a bear?

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I believe LA has only had one bear fatality and it was dubious at best maybe a bear feeding on a person that was already dead in or near st mary/iberia parish.

I hunt fairly close to the refuge. Rut is a ways off. Bucks are pawing and hooking a good bit. They’re also increasing their range. I’d hunt whatever great sign you find, feed or buck sign, as long as it’s close to heavy cover. Good luck. Beautiful place.

Set up on the water’s edge, where the hardwoods turns to cypress swamp, you’ll get an opportunity at a doe or pig fosho.

*cough

I’m confused, were only coonasses able to to apply for the draw hunt?