Louisiana is in the throes of a major drought that has reduced palatable browse for deer; they are having to depend on less desirable food sources to survive. Forty- three-year-old Daniel Colvin, Bernice, is offering a four-and-ahalf- acre smorgasbord of wheat, clover and turnips that virtually guarantee that when he sits on his stand, it’s almost a sure thing that he’ll see deer.
Colvin is an entrepreneur who has a variety of professions. He deals in real estate buying and selling, is a commercial fisherman, has a lawn service and is a consultant to property owners who want to provide the best opportunity for attracting and holding deer.
He has converted his own 1300 acres in Union Parish to a haven for deer and as a result, he has been successful in growing some impressive bucks. Colvin keeps cameras out year-round, provides minerals all year and improves the land by controlled burning and thinning where needed. He knows and keep records on virtually every buck on the property but there was one that provided a bit of a mystery.
“I’m really not sure if I knew about this particular buck,” Colvin said. “I knew I had a big one on the property and had a photo of one back in July in velvet before his rack fully developed, I knew was going to be special. Then he just disappeared, and I never had a picture of this particular buck after that.”
As dry as things have been, it had rained the night of October 29 and continued into the next morning, finally ceasing on Monday October 30.
“I knew the deer would be moving after the rain and bucks were starting to make scrapes and chase does. At 3:30, I got in my box stand overlooking the food plot and actually ran off a doe and yearling as I got to the stand. Soon after getting settled in the stand, several small bucks showed up and were starting to harass does that had also arrived,” said Colvin.
Around 5:00 that afternoon, Colvin noticed one particularly small buck had his eyes fixed on the adjacent woods. Suddenly, the buck bolted and ran from the food plot.
“I knew there had to be a bigger buck that had spooked this little buck, so I kept my eyes on the direction the buck was looking. Then I saw a big rack and then the body of an impressive buck as it stepped out. I knew it was a shooter for sure, so I got my 25.06 Remington up and five seconds later, I hit the trigger. The buck ran about twenty yards before falling at the edge of the food plot,” Colvin continued.
The buck sported an impressive rack of 11 points, had an inside spread of 19 2/8 inches, impressive main beams of 24 and 25 inches and 5-inch bases. He was determined to be 5 ½ years old and weighed in at 190 pounds.
Colvin took him to Greg Hicks, official Buckmaster scorer, and the tape came to 154 4/8 inches.
Although Colvin has a record of just about every deer on the property, this one, never actually identified, was a bit of a mystery that ended successfully.
FISHING REPORT
BLACK BAYOU – No report. Water is low. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – The big bass continue to be caught flipping jigs around the brush. Crappie are improving around the brush and running big on shiners and jigs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 3238707.
OUACHITA RIVER –Crappie have been best fishing jigs or shiners around submerged tops in the river with good catches made in the channels up the bayou. Bass are best along the banks on crank baits and in the cuts on shad imitation lures. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Crappie fishing has been quite good on the flats and edges of the channel with jigs or shiners. Bass are moving to the secondary points and swim baits and soft plastics are picking up some nice fish. Catfish continue to be caught fishing cold worms and night crawlers off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – The lake is down some seven feet as the result of the drawdown. Bass fishing has best fishing along the banks in shallow water on square bill crank baits as well as in deeper water where both bass and stripers are likely to show up. Crappie are best around deep brush, especially up Isaac Creek and they should be soon moving to the deeper water out from the dam. Boats can still be launched at the State Park launch. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 9272264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
CANEY LAKE – Bass are starting to move deeper and will soon be set up just out from the spillway where jigs and spoons will start producing. Crappie have been best around the deeper tops on shiners or jigs and they will also be headed for deeper water out from the dam as temperatures drop. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 2492347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing has been good. Crappie fishing has improved on the south end of the lake; fair around the boat slips. Bass are slow to fair. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is low and fishing is quite slow this week. A few slab crappie have been caught on jigs and shiners. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/4672259.
