re: Giles Island waiting list question

I would do that. May need to look into it.

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overlooking a cornfield all day in the Midwest doesn't compare to the hardwood bottoms along the ms river

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The Mississippi River goes all the way to what Minnesota? Many of the great Midwest bucks are killed along it, and along the hardwood bottoms through out the Midwest rivers. Once the corn is harvested, the hardwood bottoms of the Midwest are where most guys bow hunt.

The whole sitting over a large field is almost all just for tv so they can see more deer on camera.

I hunted it this year in late November. Bow ( I was 1 of 2 compound bow hunters out of a group of 12. Everyone else had a crossbow). Nobody killed while we were there (not even a doe). One guy, who hunts there about 6-8 weeks out of the year (he's pretty much as close to a "member" as they get, missed a 150" 10 pt with his crossbow). I think only a handful of deer even got in range amongst 12 hunters x 6 hunts = 72 opportunities.


1. The way they do the guides is bullshite. It should be random assignment. It's not. Guests can show up and already have a guide picked, other guests are pretty much fricked (could end up with a guide who has never even hunted the island). There are 12 guides including Jimmy. About 1/2 of them are extremely experienced (20+ years hunting there - they'll all already be taken by the time you get there unless you've hunted there 5+ times) out there and can put you on deer.

2. The amenities are very nice. The food is great. Everyone is hospitable. You will see a bunch of deer.

3. It is set up for rifle hunting. Most of the nice bucks are killed by gun or in gun season.
IT's IN MISSISIPPI = Rifle min 100 yds from feeder...perfect, no problem
BOW min 100 yds from feeder (wtf MS...should be 40 yds for bow if rifle is perfect at 100)

All that being said, they do have a metric shite ton of deer and big bucks at that. If you can get in a rifle hunt that's what I'd do. Bow is pretty inexpensive, but the success and opportunity drops a ton with the stupid MS regulations.

If MS allowed archery hunters within 40 yards of a feeder I think 8 out of 12 of us would have killed trophy bucks that week.


ETA: As others have said, spend same money go to S. Texas or midwest and have much higher opportunities/success rates with a bow in your hands. Just because it holds a bunch of deer doesn't mean shite.

FACT: It is still Louisiana/Mississippi. There is FOOD everywhere for these fricking deer. They don't pattern worth a frick just like everywhere else south of pretty much Missouri. Deer stand up, move five feet eat, lay down and sleep. Unless you are in prime rut, good luck.

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I'd like to see one of you baws ring Boelte's door bell and offer to wash dishes for a deer hunt

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No shite, man. That dude is serious, got his own goddamn Air Force and riverine patrol.

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We hunted a place that you could see his house from our line. After our first morning duck hunt shooting his pets..... he tried to buy the place. Landowner not so politely declined. He just flew more corn in to his ponds to try and hold the birds, it truly is a sight to see the Ferriday crop dusting navy dropping tons of corn thousands of sitting ducks. Problem he later found out the ducks had to loaf off over in the flooded timber on the neighbor

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I am his neighbor on the other side.

One day we may have a OBGTG and shoot the woods up just for the shits and giggles and reaction.

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Love seeing these. You got pics?

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Uncle killed this 10 point a couple years ago. Most perfect buck I've ever seen.

Dirtymike is correct, however all hunters have the option to select a guide, should two hunters pick the same guide then they will flip a coin.

For bow hunting this can definately be a factor as a guide more familiar witht he island will definately give you more of an advantage, for gun hunting doesnt really matter as the stands that are to be hunted are pre-selected and each hunter draws what stand to go to so a guides knowledge of the island doesn't really come into play as your hunting a pre-selected spot.

A lesser experience guide could be hesitant on giving you the green light on a particular deer due to age or score though.

I agree. Reminds me of a story. Probably 20-25 yrs ago 5+/- guys I know got an invite to Davis. They were stoked, only to get there and get the news they could only shoot one buck b/w the 5 of them.

UPDATE: Susan called me this morning to explain some things. I mentioned several of the issues that were discussed in this thread. Primarily the guide assignments and recent success rates. She did say the quality of bucks is down, which is why the more strenuous restrictions were implemented. She said all guides are picked at random two hunters request the same guide they flip a coin to determine who gets that guide. She also said the areas that each hunter is sent to is also picked at random. The bow success rate is around 25% right now and she said hands down the best time to go is December and January when it’s cold (no surprise here). Just thought I would share the info that was given.

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The bow success rate is around 25% right now

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See this is insanely low for a guided/outfitted hunt. Not a knock on Giles, it's a knock on paying to bow hunt in the south.

Midwest and S.Texas archery hunting can be found with 90%-100% opportunity and 70%-80% success rates on trophy bucks for the same prices.