LAKE OPHELIA- Going Down Hill

What are everyones thoughts on patitioning to make lake ophelia a 6pt or better area? Also, cutting back to just 2 muzzleloader hunts rather than 3. Maybe increase the application fee, so that the federal government may still receive all there monies. Many people hunt lake ophelia for the opportunity to kill a wall hanger......Every year i see more and more spikes on the back of 4wheelers coming out of lake ophelia...It makes me sick to know that such a great hunting area is going to s**t because of greedy hunters. Private land owners pass on 130" deer in this area, why cant the public pass on a spike??? This makes no sense.... need meat??? SHOOT A DOE! All ideas and feedback are apprecaited...We are serious about patitioning this HOT Topic!

Coon-Necks
Sounds like you just want to turn lake ophelia into your own little personal hunting spot and want to stop everyone else from being able to hunt as often as they do. It is there personal business if they want to shoot a spike or a 150 class deer, what gives you the right to try and alter the practices that are already set by wildlife biologists that actually know how to manage a deer herd. If I had to guess you are one of those Grand Lake guys who think that Lake Ophelia is part of Grand Lake and should not allow anyone to impose on "your land". In closing I know this may ruffle your feathers a little but you need to look at the bigger picture here.

BellPepperHead,

What is the bigger picture here? Do you really know? I mean the way I see it if we keep killin the deer like we do now there won't be much picture at all. I could care less about grand lake, or any of the surrounding land, I bowhunt here religously and have seen a big decrease in the # of deer here and the amt of bucks i see. Wouldnt you like to have the chance to kill nicer deer year in and year out as opposed to the spikes and 4pts that you are so gladly shooting. I just would like to have the opportunity to be able to harvest bigger bucks each year. Thought people might enjoy that too, even you onionhead.

I am going hunt your lock on this weekend Coon...how bout that.

You may be seeing a big decrease in deer cause all you do is sleep on your stand.

I love all these people saying how many does have been killed in the Basin, inferring outlawing and what not. On our basin lease this year, with all these "open days" we have only killed two does. Personally, I have only seen 1 doe with two fawns during bow season and a couple of spikes. Our neighboring leases have not been seeing anything either. Normally, I hear a rhythm of shots throughout the day. This year I have literally gone weeks without hearing a rifle shot. This year has been the worst year for us and our neighbors in the last four or five years.

Hell, I may have to take up fishing since it seems hundreds or thousands of does are being killed and I cant even see ONE.

i don't hunt this area but i would love to see a 6 pt. or better rule for the entire state.just my 2 cents

I do agree with you coon.. I would love to see a 6pt or better rule inforced on lake ophelia. I honestly feel as if it will never happen due to the lack of support from the area hunters that would rather shoot the first thing that walks by them.

I would love to see some type of restriction put on Lake Ophelia because I know the potential of the area. I have hunted Lake Ophelia and I was in a buy in membership club the bordered Lake Ophelia. I wouldn't say 6pt or better STARTING OUT though, maybe, 3 on one side. This may even be good for the whole state to start with soon. I don't know, but I would like to see state put on some type of restriction soon.

Totally agree with you coon, wish they would cut the muzzeloader hunts out completly or raise application fees way up so they could make some money for the refuge but then that money would probaly go in some politicans pocket. Lake Opelia is one of the few public places in Louisiana that you really have a good chance of killing a trophy buck and if the refuge doesnt slow the slaughter of imature deer down it will turn a thing of the past. Dont worry bout onion head he probably cant understand why you cant hunt at night.

Hey Coon, that idea is good for Lake Ophelia and its a good idea for the entire state.
BUT, you have to deal with the onionheads of the state that think a spike is a trophy, because, it REALLY IS a trophy to that group of hunters.
Look at the other states along the Mississippi river, Louisiana is dead last in antler development & age of the average deer.Try to change things,the onionheads will come out in force to whine to their politicians. It'll look like a white boot convention in Baton Rouge!
There is a good reason why the rest of the nation feels like Louisiana is a "welfare state", its b/c we project that image. Your question was answered by just another onionhead that demonstrates why that projection is real to the rest of the nation.

Coon, I couldn't agree with you more. I to hunt on the refuge, and the number of deer and the amount of bucks seen has been a steady depletion. Enforcing a 6pt or better rule in this area would only increase the buck population, not to mention the quality. To the “Vegetables” comment...Huh??? You contradict youself, you talk about the big picture and the future, explain to me your reasoning behind how shooting spikes and bucks smaller that 6pts is healthy for what’s to come. MANAGEMENT has been the only proven fact to the success of trophy deer.

Correct, Lac Ophelia USED TO BE a place where you had a chance at a wallhanger. They haven't killed a really big deer there in a couple of years, and given the current overharvest, it will take years to recover. All the bowhunters and other who actually have a stake in the refuge get stiffed by the one time muzzleloader hunters who come from anywhere, hunt once, and shoot anything that walks. But the refuges gets $15 per permit, and $5 per application. Sadly, they are doing the same to Bayou Cocodrie NWR near Ferriday, like they did the Tensas.

I say to hell with 6 point or better, make it 4 on one side!!! The problem again lies with the mentallity of people that hunt it. I really think if it was BOW ONLY, the restrictions would hold up. Typically, your bow hunters are better hunters and usually will obey the rules and regs. The problem with the restriction rule is that as long as they have the muzzleloader hunts in there you will have weekend warriers in there "ground checking" deer that will leave the area with a bunch of dead, wasted deer. We've seen it over and over on public land. I agree with having the muzzleloader hunts to help manage the herd because with only bows in there the place would get over populated which is not good for the herd either. What they need to do is make it mandatory to have the International Bowhunters safety card to hunt the place regardless of weapon!!!!! We have to have it to bow hunt the place!!!! That way you know that for the most part it will be ethical hunters on the refuge!!!! Just my 2 cents.............

thanks for the support, everyone i talk to is wanting to see a change, so i think if we can get a petition out there and get enough people to sign it, that they have to do something.

ALTHOUGH SETTING A MINIMUM SIZE ON THE BUCKS WOULD HELP THATS NOT THE PROBLEM. HAVE ANY OF YOU SAT AND GLASSED THE RESTRICTED AREAS DURING THE RUT? THERE ARE MONSTERS IN THERE AN ALOT OF THEM. WHY WOULD A MATURE BUCK LEAVE AN AREA UNACCESSABLE BY HUMANS TO GO INTO AN AREA FULL OF HUMANS? I'M NOT AGAINST RESTRICTED AREAS, BUT THEY SHOULD BE ROTATED EVERY YEAR. KEEPS THE DEER GUESSING AND ON THE MOVE. OVER HALF OF LAKE OPHELIA IS RESTRICTED AREA AND THESE RESTRICTED AREAS HAVE BEEN THAT WAY SINCE IT WAS ACQUIRED BY THE FEDS. THESE AREAS ALSO PULL DEER FROM THE PRIVATE LAND IN THAT AREA. ONE SMALL SECTION OF THE RESTRICTED AREA WAS HUNTED FOR THE YOUTH HUNT. MY NEICE SAT AND SAW OVER 15 RACK BUCKS THAT MORNING AND DOZENS OF DOES. I'M GLAD THE YOUTHS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT THESE AREAS, BUT ITS NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE THE DEER OUT. THERE ARE BUCKS IN THERE THAT WILL NEVER SEE A HUNTER AND DIE FROM NATURAL CAUSES. THE SAME GOES FOR THE DUCK SANCTUARY THE FEDS HAVE AT GRAND COTE. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DUCK WINTER THERE AND DO NOT LEAVE THE AREA TIL THE SPRING. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FLOODED ACRES THERE THAT IS NOT HUNTED AND WORSE THAN THAT ARE PLANTED WITH FEED TO HOLD THE DUCKS. SO IF YOU'RE NOT KILLING DUCKS AND THINK THAT THE DUCKS ARE NOT HERE JUST GO TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THE FEDS ARE MAKING SURE YOU WON'T BE KILLING. OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK.

Bow hunt.

The deer need the sanctuaries. They can't just stack up in there, an area can only hold so many deer. The young and old deer both will leave in and out. Point is, every deer in the area can't live in the sanctuaries. Also, the big bucks will live in there, spread their genes, and their offspring will spread out from there. Its not soo bad.

ITS OBVIOUS TCOLE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE RESTRICTED AREA. AN AREA WILL HOLD THE DEER IT HAS FOOD FOR. THESE AREAS ARE PLANTED AND NOT HARVSTED WITH SOYBEANS MILO AND CORN. SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES NOT TO MENTIION THE WOODED AREAS LOADED WITH ACORNS. IF YA'LL WANT TO FOOL YALSELVES INTO THINKING ITS THE MEASLY FEW DEER THE HUNTERS ARE KILLING AND NOT THE RESTRICTED AREAS THAT ARE HURTING ALL OUR HUNITNG THEN GO FOR IT. IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. DEER AREN'T STUPID. AGAIN I'LL SAY WHY LEAVE AN AREA YOU ARE NOT PRESSURD WITH ALL THE FOOD YOU CAN POSSIBLY EAT TO GO INTO AN AREA CRAWLING WITH HUNTERS. IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE THIS ONE OUT THEN SIGN YOUR PETITION.

Perhaps the new manager (I think he is from MS) will consider rotation of the existing areas and open the closed area, fewer hunters to be drawn and all of the other suggestions...but that has to be balanced against opportuity for the public...I certainly think thta Ophelia, Catahoula and Grand Cote should have an antler restriction os some type and the doe harvest be limited to bow only, and then only until prior to the rut... I understand the Mississippi refuges have done this or are going to do this even more.

I hunted two different areas this past weekend and didn't see a deer. I hunted behind Doom's lake on Sunday and hardly saw any tracks. Last year, I saw loads of deer tracks on the second crossing atv trail; I only saw about ten tracks on that atv trail this weekend. Did see a bunch of hogs in a field right behind Lake Ophelia.

Had a friend take a handicapped fellow to Tensas for a hunt in the RESTRICTED AREA. First day only 5 DEER seen by the hunters one miss. Second day very few deer seen again and his partner missed a doe the only DEER they saw looking over 300 acres of a green field. I used to ride thru there on the road and see 25 to 50 deer depending on weather and time of day. I agree that all the refuges and WMA need horn restrictions and fewer either sex hunts whether gun or muzzleloader.

I think you make some good points. "Butt". It seems that you would have better luck convincing other people to go along or at least consider your opinion if you didn't talk down to people that are not "Bowhunters". Yes there are gun hunters in this state that beleive in management and are not of the brown its down mentallity. That being said if it is a legal deer taken how can you judge someone for there reason to take an animal. I can teel you this when i start the season i am looking for a good deer. When it is later in the season and the freezer is empty I am looking for a legal deer. Does it make me unethical to kiil a smaller legal deer. What I kill no matter large or small is eaten and cetainly not wasted. Thing is if we want to make a change we as sportsmen(bow,riffle,muzzle) have to all be on the same page to make it happen. Just my opion. Take it with a grain of salt, some pepper and a good roast to go with the onionheads.

For those of you that are crying about the way the refuges are being ran, don’t hunt there!!!! It’s plain and simple!!!!! For those of you outsiders that don’t know or may have forgotten, until the late 60”s and 70”s before the tress were bulldozed, those weeds were virgin timber that our Fathers and Grandfathers fed their families on. If the Federal wouldn’t have bought that land you and I wouldn’t even have the opportunity to even walk on that property must less kill a trophy!! $20 is basically free to hunt!!!! If you want horn restrictions, join one of these $5000 a year clubs!!!! I promise you in two years you will be glad to pay your $20 dollars and kill bambi!!!!! Probably the only reason you outsiders are hunting here in Avoyelles Parish is because you have already killed everything that moves around your house!!! So my two cents is DON’T HUNT THERE!!!! STAY HOME!!!!!!!

I do not hunt Lake Ophelia, but I do hunt Tensas alot. ALL these problems I see here on this thread are the same things happening at Tensas. You see that guy who posted here about Outsiders coming into his territory. I know this type well. The clique type that has to be accepted. He modifys his ways and accent to fit in with the "in"group. Fake! I guarantee that the first question you would be asked by him and his kind if yall engaged in a talk is, "Where you from?" Guarantee. Think about it. I have seen people I know with straight monotone accent suddenly develop a "Twang" just to fit in with a crowd. That's fake. One should have more self-esteem than that to survive in today's world.

Anyway, I do agree with the antler restriction on NWR's. And yes, without any bias, the bowhunter IS a more level-headed thinking hunter simply because of what it takes to be successfull with the bow on a regular basis. I am a serious bow hunter, but on the Lottery days I am out there with my rifle. MZL. days, I am out there with that too.

But don't pull that "we were born here" crap on me. I just recently jumped a red neck's a$# up at Tensas for that same thing. 99% of people, in the name of peace and respect just soak up the comments like the "crying" post here, and let it die. I guarantee that red neck won't make any more "behind the back" comments.

The NWR's are in the business for Maintaining a healthy herd of all animals, and second- to provide recreation. I truly wish they would make it all bowhunting, but that won't happen.
NWR's get money from a budget, generated when you do what you are about to do now- file your Federal income tax.

Finally, honestly, all those aluminum beer cans and 12 pack cartons you see on the roadside leaving NWR's and WMA's after a Thanksgiving hunt or a Lottery hunt, who do you think threw that out ? Really ? I just think that if you take any kind of an unbiased poll, you would see that the rowdy type, with the loud exhaust, probably driving a Z71, who never misses an Either Sex hunt on the public land, is likely to be the culprit. They told us in DWI school to look for the cheap beer in a can, since it IS cheap to buy, therefore quantity can be bought on limited funds which means only one thing- intention of drinking alot. They said the person with the expensive long necks probably will drink far less and is probably drinking one for taste and thus more responsible and less likely to be DWI. They actually teach this. So it is not hard to put together a mental picture of different social types, and see how it fits in with this NWR management.

By the way, I stole one of yall's Avoyelles Parish women, and married her.

Anyone who pays taxes has a right to state his or her opinion on how it should be run. No one opinion is worth more than the other!

Hey Lamplighter, where you from?

Lamplighter
You are just another greedy Ba*tard that floats from refuge to refuge with any weapon you can, to kill all you can. Your intelligence shows when you make a statement like a bow hunter is more level headed, Hell Boy, look at widowmaker’s post he kills any and everything that walks from a baby to its mom!!! Again if you don’t like how the refuge is being ran, DON’T HUNT THERE!!!! Being you married a Avoyelles Parish Girl, if her Daddy would know you talking like that he would put his foot in you’re A$$!!!

The main idea here is what do you want to kill? Big or small? Do want there to be a future for this place or not? Its all about what you want this place to be so possum nuts what do you want it to be

It is known most people hunt NWR'S, WMA'S, and public land because it is basically free to hunt. I think it would be a good idea to have a 6pt or better rule, but keep the either sex days and on those days drop the 6pt or better rule. i do not hunt public for deer only ducks so i do not know exactly when either sex days are, but i believe they are at the beginning of the season. i think there should be ONE at the end of the season as well. I have this opinion because i am also looking to get something in the freezer first then start trophy hunting and if i do not get one, then get one more for some meat. i love the sausage, but i love it cubed up in gumbos, sauce picant, etc. pretty much i am trying to say is that i like to have one deer strictly for meat to cook different ways then one for sausage for myself and other family who love deer but do not hunt. maybe my idea could make all hunters come to an agreement. maybe i just pissed off a bunch of people. thats my two cents.

Leave it alone, If I get in a tree and a small buck comes within shooting range, and decide that I want to take him, then so be it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If anyone wants to make this a restricted antler hunt, JOIN A CLUB!!!

First let me say that I am glad to see that most everyone had some good ideas and suggestions and yes I agree with a lot of them (antler restrictions, restricted area relocation) just to name a couple, but the fact is that we (the hunters) don't seem to have much say so as far as the rules and regs go on state or fed land. As much as I would like to see some change happen to make it better or easier for you and I, it also would draw more attention to other hunters which is the biggest problem now with Ophelia. I am not saying people should not come hunt Ophelia but there are to many of us in there now a days. Most of us including myself wished they would do something with the gravel road and now that they did I wish it was back the way it used to be only because I think it detered some folks from coming back. Now they are talking about fixing Buck Road next year which will make it easier for more folks to access deeper into the refuge more often. Like I said I not trying to deter folks but it can be frustrating at times.

I have only been hunting there for 9 years now almost religously and have taken 2 quality bucks there. However I have seen and had close encounters with more than you would believe, even still this year. Yes I agree that it is much harder and a little more rare now than several years ago but there are still good deer in the area.

We can go on for days about what we would like to see done with Ophelia but our voices are rarely heard when it is time for the decision making for rules and regs. I like this web-site for the most part but it can be a dagger in the heart for some of the places that we all like to HUNT and FISH. I made a mistake a few years back of posting a pic of the first nice buck I killed in Ophelia and will NEVER do it again. If you want to see pics from Ophelia and the surronding areas go over to Dupuy's but then again I see people now not even stoping there to have a pic taken because they are scared to draw even more attention to the refuge.

Ophelia may be cripled some what but it is still alive and well...trust me...our game cameras don't lie. We have taken some pics this year of several diferent specimens that will staight up SCARE you. One most likely larger than anything EVER posted on this site. The best thing is that of the hundred or so pics that we got probably 85-90% were all bucks with 90% of them being rack bucks. The bad news is that we did not get and probably only seen one or two of them due to pressure once the season opened. However I will say that we did get twice the pics of hogs than deer.

I have invested too much time and money in my travels and camp there at Ophelia to give up now BUT I truly believe that it will not get any worse than it is now only because most new-comers will be detered simply by the amount of pressure and the lack of deer sightings that most new-comers encounter.

If some of you serious Ophelia hunters would like to attempt to get together and try to make a difference I would like to be included and so will a few of my friends that hunt with me. Please email me and we can talk...rdufren@entergy.com

Good luck to all who pursue WILD deer in natural habitat, I know from experience we will need it to some extent...
Any deer with a bow is a trophy but like some one mentioned "need meat...take a doe", IF you have the option. Really, ask yourself, why shoot a buck that you would not consider a real trophy (something you would mount) "IF" a doe is standing next to him? "REALLY"?? Otherwise I respect the decision of a BOW hunter to harvest a LEGAL smaller buck...after all it is a rare occasion these days...

Some may argue that todays bows are so advaced that deer do not have a chance...I agree that they are better now than 10 or more years ago but they will never be a 7mag...there are only so many things you can make happen with a "stick and string"...After all that is what it is...

We really are serious about getting something goin, and we are spreading the word and gettin alot of positive feed back except from a few people like onion heads and rabbit turds, but what your email so we can get in touch.

Maybe they should restrict it to 4 1/2 or better. A true hunter could catch the deer and hold his mouth ipen to check his jawbone! No, but seriously, antler restrictions only high grade your smaller bucks. Hunting a place where there are restrictions is no fun. You may see alot of deer, but seeing alot of deer usually means an unhealthy herd. If you have only a few deer that get to eat all the resources, the chances of them growing big is much better than if there are 300 deer going after the same resources. Who wants to take their kid out hunting and see a 4 point - which is a trophy in his eyes, only to tell him he cannot shoot it? And if he does he just committed a violation? I am all for maybe a bowhunting only section of the refuge. And as far as the restricted areas go, you need to give these animals REFUGE./ My 2 cents

I have added it to my original comment...

I have always been trying to say that they should make Lac Ophelia 8pt or better. I own 500 acres that borders it and i pass on small bucks all year and when all yall go out there yall kill all the ones i pass on. Thanks alot for killing all my small deer.

BIGJON, what do you mean "killing all your small deer". You and I both know that you don't let the small ones pass. You have two or three stands right on the fence and I know you don't let them walk. How many deer would you say you have on your 500 acres?????

I know and have seen with my own eyes what some of the adjoining land owners around there get away with and I got a feeling that you are no different than the rest...

I LOVE the way you refer to it as "my deer" unless you have a dead deer or a legal pen with legaly purchased deer in it there is no such thing as "YOUR" deer. They belong to the state of LA even if they are standing on your property. However I am SURE that you are perfectly aware of that but you guy's continue to refer to it as you deer.

If it were not for the refuge you would not be watching any small bucks walk away. IF or WHEN you would see anything you would be ground checking it just like they did before Ophelia was a refuge. I had a property owner approach me last week and accuse me of hunting his property and shooting his deer...when I was CLEARLY not. In fact he was the breaking the law riding his mule on the refuge off of a designated ATV trail, oversize vehicle, posession of an unauthorized firearm and ammunition, no permit, no check out card.....shall I go on... If you want to put your 2 ton feeders 10' from the line and wait for a deer to walk off of the refuge to shoot it with your rifle, thats fine with me...BUT don't you DARE come here with this BULL about me hunting "YOUR" deer if I set up ten feet on the other side the line along the trails leading to your 2ton feeders.

Let me guess...you have never shot a deer that you had to trail on to the refuge...and if you had you went out of your way to go check in and retrieve the deer with out a gun right???

The first rule that should be changed IF ANY is that all you land owners and the people hunting with you should be required to purchase a $15 refuge permit. After all the refuge could use your donation to help raise a few more deer for you and your buddy's to shoot.

Don't forget we are hunting with ancient weapons and don't get as many oppurtunities as you get with your cannon, so if once in a while one of us shoot a smaller buck, hopefully because it was our only option, how can you blame us...you would do the same thing.

this topic was brought up concerning the people that put in there time and effort hunting lake ophelia, not the owners surrounding it. While it does help that they pass on small bucks, they cant expect us, people who are hunting with a stick and string to be as selective as they can be. I just think that we should regulate the refuge to give the bow hunters a better oppurtunity at bigger deer. This should be a bow hunters paradise not a muzzle hunters slaughter hole.

this topic was brought up concerning the people that put in there time and effort hunting lake ophelia, not the owners surrounding it. While it does help that they pass on small bucks, they cant expect us, people who are hunting with a stick and string to be as selective as they can be. I just think that we should regulate the refuge to give the bow hunters a better oppurtunity at bigger deer. This should be a bow hunters paradise not a muzzle hunters slaughter hole.

this topic was brought up concerning the people that put in there time and effort hunting lake ophelia, not the owners surrounding it. While it does help that they pass on small bucks, they cant expect us, people who are hunting with a stick and string to be as selective as they can be. I just think that we should regulate the refuge to give the bow hunters a better oppurtunity at bigger deer. This should be a bow hunters paradise not a muzzle hunters slaughter hole.

When i refer to "My deer", i am not talking about the all of the deer belong to me. I am talking about the ones close to my land. I think that every deer within 500 yds of my land is part mine. I feed over $3,000 worth of corn to them every year. If i didnt do that then each one of the deer that come out of there would weigh at least 15% less. In my opinion, if you kill a deer within 500 yds of my place, bring me a backstrap and we can call it even.

first of all the people leaving beer cans and cartons everywhere is the ones coming in from other areas, pouring into any wma that has either sex days and drink all night and then pour into the woods the next day with no idea of where they are going and having no consideration for other hunters who have put time in scouting to locate a good spot to hunt. these are the ones that will climb a tree less than 50 yds from you and could care less. and second, i know alot of redneck guys that hunt tensas and i'm so sure you jumped on one of their a#@@ and they just cowered down and took it. you must be a real bada@##. oh and just what the crap does beer cans and Z71's got to do with anything anyone is talking about.
grow up!

You are not a TYPICAL property owner on the border...$3000 is nothing compared to what I am seeing on some sides of the property. Then again YES you are the typical propety owner...always crying because a REAL hunter just MIGHT have a chance on one or two of "YOUR" deer...lol. Maybe Ophelia should just make that 500yd area that you speak of that backs up to your land part of the restricted area, and let you cut a shooting lane all the way through to the new line...you would still find something to complain about.

Dude...Dude...please for the love of God...consider yourself fortunate or lucky at least. You don't have any idea how bad some of us would love to be part of a piece of land such as yours. You should be thanking us for supporting the refuge....

Why don't you just put a game fence around your 500 acres...that would solve all of your problems...I am sure you can afford it but if not just hunt natural for a few years and save yourself $9000...that would be a good start...

I would just put a game fence on the lake ophelia side. Problem solved.

Put up a game fence???? I promise you he will never put up a game fence because once again, 90% of the deer he shoots uses the refuge as a bedding area!!!!!!!! With a high fence, instead of keeping deer in, he knows good and well he will be keeping deer out!!!! Instead, most of these land owners will try to bull@#it you into thinking you're on private property!! Then try to preach to you about how, "I am trying to protect a 3.5 million dollar investment, and ya'll are f@#$ing up my hunts by hunting on the property line!!!" Well I say to hell with you, you are messing up my hunt by sitting in that box blind 30 yards from the boundary with that rifle in your hand!!! I feel the, "LAND OWNER" should have thought about that 3.5 million dollars before he "INVESTED" next to a PUBLIC NWR!!!!!

High fence you are right, i should put a high fence up on the ophelia side but like the other guy said i like the deer coming from lake ophelia onto my piece but i do not like for them to go the other way. I am in the process of talking with a company that is going to install a short fence on the lake ophelia side with a moat on my side so that the deer can jump the fence to come on my piece but cannot jump it from my side onto the other. Has anyone else seen someone else with a design like this? And rincon650 you are right, i do not pass on all of the small bucks that i see on my land, last muzzleloader hunt i shot a spike because he was heading off of my property towards another guy that was hunting on the fence line. If i wouldnt have shot him the other guy would have.

The little bit of respect I did have for you just went out the window...I am sure that if you could install some kind of one way fence you would in a heart beat you greedy pig...why don't you just go ahead and continue to shoot everything that ever walks by because hey, sooner or later I am sure that it will walk past some one on the refuge right?...

Why don't you just lease your land to me and get you a piece in MS among all the other private land and leases. Then you would really have something to cry about...

what area is your 500 acres in??????

I would like to start a petition that would allow us to run dogs on Lake Ophelia! What does everyone think??

Bigjon, you dont need to build a moat just put up a fence along the ophelia side with a mound of dirt on the outside fairly wide, make it the same height as the fence. Then put your corn or protein feeder on your side. Deer can jump down into your place but cant jump out.

BIGJON, you sure did open a can of worms when you started talking about your 500 acre honey hole and "your deer". All of your corn, salt blocks, rice bran, deer caine, molasses and whatever else you are feeding "your" deer are keeping them out of the regular woods and that prevents people like me from killing them. Between your area and the restricted areas, the deer have absolutely nothing to worry about!!!! I forgot to ask you....Do you own all the hogs too?

The last time I checked The state of Louisiana/Federal Govt. owns all Deer in this state. Even if you put up a fence. Even if you bought the biggest buck in the world at an auction. You do not have sole rights to that deer. The state regulates when and how you can kill that animal. So I'm sorry BIG JON, money can't buy that. HFH, that is a good idea about the dirt mound. Lets implement that up on your place. I'll buy the dirt. The landing might hurt um though...hehehe

Killer, I'm not sure, but I have to disagree with your comment on the owning of deer. If I bought a deer to put in my petting zoo, i can insure it. Meaning I own that deer. If someone shot in my pen, i could get my money back. As for the ramp, Bigjon could do it b/c the deer can still walk out of his property, but mine is completely enclosed. I already have the genetics in there so i dont want a 200 lb spike to jump in and harass my does.

Killer about the dirt ramp, we did have one but its hard to keep an accurate deer count on the place when you dont know how many jumped in. We took a track hoe and pulled the dirt back. But this can easily be put back. I will show you next time we do a thinning.

I guess that 200lb spike getting in there would be as bad as giving lil rick the code to the gate. They both could screw up a good thing..hehehe. Also, why didn't you tell me you had insurance on that 150 class 8 point I let walk the other day. I would have smoked him if I knew that!!!! hehehe

For those of you (bigjon) crying about lake ophelia and the public killing your deer. Maybe you should have stayed in your neck of the woods when you purchase your 500 acre paradise. And for those of you that are really concerned about the deer heard on lake ophelia how about sending your comments to the refuge manager. Maybe he can do something about the situation unlike the crybabies that can't do a d*mn thing. This will draw a lot less pressure to the refuge also.

SINCE WHEN DID YOU START CARING ABOUT LAKE O? YOUVE BEEN LIVING IN DULAC FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS!!!!!! ISNT THERE GOOD HUNTING DOWN THERE TO WHERE U DONT HAVE TO COME HERE AND HUNT? JUST A QUESTION? LETS GO HUNTING THAT 500 ACRE TRACT U GOT D GASPARD SAID HE COULD TAKE ME WHENEVA!

D. Gaspard does not have the authority to bring people into my "Paradise", he gets paid good very good money to feed all of my deer while i am away and to keep people out. That is the only role he is allowed to play back there. If anyone knows that he is bringing people on my piece, please tell me and you could possibly have his job.

BIGJON, why don't you let me have access to your 500 acres and let me clean out a few hogs for you? We both know and have seen all the hogs in your area. You need to realize that the hogs are eating all the deer food and therefore hurting "your deer". I bet half of all the food you put out is consumed by those hogs. A few years ago, Lake Ophelia had a lottery hog hunt in which hunters were allowed to ride through the fields/woods and shoot all the hogs they could. That was the most fun I've ever had in my life. You should allow a few of us to run through your 500 acres on ATVs and clean out those hogs. It's a win-win situation for you. You will rid yourself of the hog problems and maybe not quite as many people will dislike you if you allow them to kill a few hogs on your property. Think about it and let us know.

WOW. What happened there, i just woke up and dreamed that i had 500 acres by lake ophelia. If i did have 500ac i would let all of yall go hunt all the hogs you wanted. Sorry rdj, and everyone else, i didnt know that everything would get this out of control. The truth is that I own all of lake ophelia, just like everyone else who pays taxes, and buys their hunting license in the state, we just let the govt control it. Coon-Necks, it is a good idea to do a petition on what you believe in. If there is more people for it than aginst it then they may consider changing their management program there, and thats all we can do about the situation. I would be for cutting down the # of people picked for each hunt or cutting down the # of hunts. I would also be for adding more land to the restricted area and picking more kids for lottery hunts in that area. Just look at pldhunts last post and see how much fun he had with his boy at the last youth hunt. Thats what it is all about. Best thing to do is to draw up that petition, post it on here and tell everyone please not to post any comments about it, leave your contact number so that those who want to sign it can. Those who want to go against it can do the same.

I agree the best idea is to petition the Refuge manager, or show up at the public comment period, but they don't advertise it very well. If they would open the darn lake up again they could replace all the lottery hunter $ with fisherman $. I used to wear the bass out, but it's been closed since 1999 or so.

I agree with A.K.L!!!!! Everything he says is right!!! HAHA We will be hunting the refuge tomorrow and Thursday. Give me a shout tomorrow night, we'll get together and talk about how many deer Lake Ophelia DOESN'T have!!!!! LOL Give me a holla.........852-6511. Chris

Alright we can kick back some cold ones and wonder what some of these fools are thinking.

Actually you are right. This particular individual does stay up all night drinking and leaves camp late in the morning. I am one of the persons you described, in that I do alot of scouting and prep., go to bed early and enter the refuge at 4:00am, not 4:01 am. I killed a respectable 8 point the day before the lottery with my bow and when I unloaded it, he wouldn't even look at it. The next day on the lotto hunt I actually had another 8 in the scope, easy kill. I let him walk. Having two deer already, I had all the meat I wanted. THAT, together with me limiting out on turkey in two days back in March, just ate him up. He hadn't killed anything up until the 2nd Lottery at Tensas . He ran his mouth saying I leave my deer hanging for two days because I am waiting for him to volunteer to qtr. it for me. He put up signs complaining about leaving guts all over, and admitted that he sees my # on his cell and ignores it. That is why I jumped his >S$.

Lets face it. There are those who are going to mow everything down, and those who will select hunt. We will never change any of it. Just accept it. I do. What could be will never be.

How many people do you know who has a nice 8 point in the scope on the Lotto day, at Tensas, and lets him walk ? I bet very few.

Coon-Neck, you are not hunting in a zoo. If you want to see huge deer, go sit in your nice heated box stand in gl, or better yet, in someone elses. I know a good area that you could get a ride to at around 7:00 Saturday, but don't worry, when you are ready to leave at 8, someone will be passing. That should be enough time to sleep off your hangover from the court house square. Get serious about the sport before you try to change it.

wow! you are the great white hunter. i bet all your friends wish they were just like you. you should have your own show. you should call jackie bushman and see if you could get on his show. actully i know your type very well. the one that wants everyone to "look at me" i am a great hunter, look at my bow, i am a serious bow hunter. if the truth be known you're probably the sort that could'nt find a needle in a haystack unless somebody else already did the scouting and told you where to go. and if you had a buck in the corsshairs and didnt shoot it was because the scope fell off your gun. if you need to sob to somebody about something do it somewhere other than this forum. what grade are you in anyway?

Really, look back at the posts between you and I. I don't insult you and figure you just have your own ways of doing things. You continue to post insults, THEN you reverse the maturity by post content thing on me. It's like you are looking in a mirror and see someone else.

Anyway, good luck on your future ventures.

Guys we all know where this is goin we are not making no progress here cause all yall are doin is fighting like some 2 year olds! If you are interested in making some changes for the best then give your two sense if not go play some where else! before to long if we keep the rules and regs like they are this place is goin to turn out like grassy lake wma! We all know how that place is! It has gone to sh** ever since people decided killing everything they see is more important that trying to make things good.

i apologize for getting upset with this lamplighter guy, but when you get off the topic of what this thread is about and start talking about other specific persons and talk how you are all big and bad how he jumped some rednecks butt for whatever reason, it just ruffles my feathers. the guy seems to have some personal problems. but anyway, stay on the topic and keep your personal problems to yourself.

There is someone who actually owns the deer in Ophelia. He goes by the name of D. Soileau, he is a fed. warden, and for the past few years has been running Ophelia like it is his. If Coon dick could get him on his side, the six point rule may actually be put into affect. You better not let soileau find out who u really are coon, cause u know he hates u and lube!!!!!!!!!!

yea i've met soileau a few times but never had any problems with him, he seemed nice. but i have also talked with others who didnt seem so. he told us about 5-6 years ago that they were supposed to build up the road and white rock it. did they ever do that? its been 2 yrs since ive been down there.

Have a question for you coon master? You obviously feel that the taking of a small buck (spike) on a Federal WMA (Lake Ophelia) should not be allowed. How do you feel about the taking of a small buck (spike) on a State owned WMA lets say like Grassy Lake?

Obviously you are not from Avoyelles, Soileau is infamous around these parts. If you have not been down there in two years, why are you even commenting on the subject! We coonasses really don't like out of towners hunting where our grandfathers used to hunt!!!

well i feel if you need meat take whatever the rules allow, that doesnt mean that i wouldn't rather the rules to be changed so people like myself wouldnt have the opportunity to shoot a smaller deer. Like i said if i need the meat i will shoot what the rules allow me too, but only if i need the meat. But i still think its time for a change, i think it would be great if grassy would go the same rules.....

well i feel if you need meat take whatever the rules allow, that doesnt mean that i wouldn't rather the rules to be changed so people like myself wouldnt have the opportunity to shoot a smaller deer. Like i said if i need the meat i will shoot what the rules allow me too, but only if i need the meat. But i still think its time for a change, i think it would be great if grassy would go the same rules.....

Are there really still some of you out there who NEED deer meat. I love venison, but isn't it about the sport. Most of the game I kill, is given away to people who really NEED the meat. Chicken is too cheap, to be hunting for the MEAT!!!

Canard, Thank You for clearing that up about Avoyelles Parish!!! Coon-Necks, you better spit!!!!! You talking out of both sides of your mouth!!!

I agree w carnad francais!! Who really needs the meat? The way i look at it, by the time you spend money on gass, licenses, fourwheeler, bullets, guns,bows, arrows, broadheads, permits,beer, whiskey, etc., etc,....Hunting is expensive!! As a matter of fact if you do the math, deer meat is much more expensive than a nice ribeye of filet mignon!!

If anyone is actually serious and would like to patition to change the rules...to better the refuge or the whole area 6, FROM A BOW HUNTERS or a GUN HUNTERS point of view, please submit your email address so we can get the ball rolling in the off season...

And everyone please remember God created the earth and all wonderfull aspects of life for us to enjoy!!!! Lets all enjoy the outdoors and at the same time try to get along with one another!

I bet you are one of them people that shoot 8 deer a year and none of them have more than 6 pts!

I agree with coon-necks on this. No matter where you hunt, if you need the meat, take what is legal. I'd much rather eat the game i harvest than buying it from the market. But i will trophy hunt when i harvest what i need. I hunt for the sport and the meat, but i dont hunt just to take a limit. If the biologist are doing their job the deer population should be good. Just because you dont see alot of deer is'nt necessarily because the population is down, its got alot to with hunting pressure and deer changing their moving habits.

Ladies, While all of ya'll been bittchin', someone was sittin' in Lake Ophelia and Ground Checked a gorgeous Buck!
Check out the new post. Thats classic!

It sounds to me like you should join a management club and stop being a critic of what other hunters take as a trophy. i hunt lake ophelia and have hunted the area before it was taken by the feds. population control is a management tool so there is less competition for feed and needed protien to grow big racks, there has too be checks and balances. i have killed two nice bucks within site of a check station you dont have to go far or hunt Dr. Mcanns fence to kill a nice deer. Dr. mcann has tried to do the same type of stuff you are talking about some years back (DIDNT WORK). I still duck hunt in there and have seen some real brusers in the button woods on the edges of the lakes but not everbody is willing to go through the trouble(FAIR WEATHER HUNTERS). hunt hard and be fair to the other hunters who hunt the same property.

I like your name....it has a nice ring to it!!

I have been hunting lake ophelia since it opened.I also hunted it back in the day when it was Boone's property.I agree that the deer population has dropped. I have mentioned to the Fed's about several things on that issue.There response was that lake ophelia and grand cote were established for the ducks and the BIRD WATCHERS??????? I don't think you can put a 6pt restriction because we get yo7ng people how have never killed before.Not fair to them. However, I think if your a true hunter by heart and not trying to feed the whole family, you'll pass on those small bucks.Doe meat taste just as good.

Ya can't eat horns!! Like the Admiral will say Cheers'!!

I received a paper stating that it was purchased an it had the information about getting hunter Ed complete an getting turned in. Moreno Valley Onsite Truck Repair