The time has come, we've officially began our hunt. Unfortunately, one of the winners had to cancel at the last minute due to personal reasons. Everyone rolled into camp yesterday afternoon/evening. After a round of introductions, we dined on jalapeno and cheddar venison sausage poboys. There were 4 of us in the woods this morning. The weather was not ideal but there was still a few young bucks seen. Including a swing and miss due to a minor bow limb/climber clearance issue. This evening was very quiet but a big pot of chicken and sausage gumbo waiting for us at the camp more than made up for it. Temps for the morning are forecasted for low 30's so we are very optimistic. To be continued...
Hoping for a successful camp for you guys, knowing just being in the woods on this hunt is success enough!
Best of luck.
Rest up and get after 'em in the morning, Jeremy. You know I'd rather be with you guys than what I'm doing. I hope the drop in temps gets the big boys moving for you. Text me any updates as I'll be on road next 3 days.
Good luck guys! This cold weather should have them on their feet!
:campfire: :coffee: get that St Judes Mojo going boys
:coffee:
Well, service was very spotty yesterday so I couldn't update.
Day 2: Gregg and I walked a mile into an area I scouted previously. I must have garholed Gregg because he didn't see a thing. I had a close call on a doe behind my tree but she turned around before I had room to shoot. Travis and Jay each had bucks in range but no shots. That afternoon Gregg and I moved locations but no one in the group saw deer. We returned to camp and had some of Chef Andre's very good pork gravy.
Day 3: This morning was filled with indecision. Most of the group had previously decided they were going to pack up after the morning hunt. Gregg particularly has a long drive ahead of him and was a little concerned about holiday traffic if he left on Sunday as planned. To complicate matters, we woke up to light rain expected to worsen throughout the day. After much debate Gregg and decided to wrap it while Travis and Jay hit the woods. The rain has gotten heavier but is off and on.
It ended up raining all day yesterday and is still raining. Everyone headed home yesterday. No deer were killed and the weather only cooperated one morning but we had a blast. The food was great and new friends were made. Can't wait to do it again!
Sounded like a trip that was a success just for the food and comradery .... :thumbsup:
Had a great trip and really enjoyed sharing camp with Gregg. It was unfortunate we missed out on hunting with Darren.
I missed very low on a 3-pt Th. AM. He was 20yds & my arrow hit somewhere around where his hooves were. Shot looked perfect left & right just a few feet short. Perhaps my bow limb hit my climber. I had a 2nd buck come down the same trail an hour later but he spooked when he saw the arrow/lighted nock. I pulled that climber & brought a lock-on into that spot. moved to a different tree for better cover thinking more deer might come down that same trail. Friday AM I had a really nice 6pt come by, but he was on the opposite side of where the other bucks had passed. He was directly behind me at 20yds, but never offered a shot before moving into the palmettos. That was it for deer sightings for me. The weather turned & it was rainy on Sat. We made a quick hunt, pulled our stands & broke down camp to head home for New Years with our families.
I had a great time on this adventure with a truly outstanding group of guys. Jeremy Lemieux did his best to put me on the deer. I have never seen so much food available for deer in any woods that I have ever hunted. There were acorns of every variety in abundance, which made hunting the food sources a major challenge. I had a close call with a young buck that I grunted in three times on the first morning. He would come in to just shy of bow range and hang up. There is a certain majesty to a deer in the swampland as they ghost through a slough that remains etched in your mind. I can sill see that buck and know that he will be a part of the ever growing montage of images that play repeatedly through my mind when I dwell on deer hunting experiences.
The food was absolutely fantastic. Those of you that don't know about Louisiana hunting culture should know that camp life is as big a part of the experience as the hunt itself. There was one old boy at the camp that made up enough jambalaya and white beans to feet an army and shared it throughout the campground. Jeremy's buddy, Andre, came to camp just to cook and I'm seriously thinking about hiring him on for all of my hunting trips.
I enjoyed hunting with Jay Curole and Travis Byland as well as Jeremy. Travis's Uncle Jodie and a friend, Shane were also in camp, but they were duck hunting. There were also a bunch of small game hunters in the area. There is a lot to offer on the refuge.
I did a sorry job taking pictures of the hunt, which is very uncharacteristic for me. I'll post up a few shortly.
Louisiana was the ninth state that I have been blessed to hunt. We are truly lucky to live in a country that provides such a diverse and wonderful amount of hunting opportunities for us.
Here, Jeremy is leading the way through the slough.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/untitled%204_zpsjs7izwdk.png) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/untitled%204_zpsjs7izwdk.png.html)
An obligatory selfie
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/untitled%205_zps00twyme3.png) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/untitled%205_zps00twyme3.png.html)
My greybark PMA looks great in the Louisiana swamps. Who am I kidding? It looks great everywhere.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/untitled%202_zpsvavlw5cs.png) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/untitled%202_zpsvavlw5cs.png.html)
Camp life. That's jay in the center flanked by the duck hunters.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/untitled%203_zpshdnbkmdc.png) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/untitled%203_zpshdnbkmdc.png.html)
If you ever get a chance to share a camp with Jeremy, Jay or Travis, do it. I plan to repeat the experience at some point down the line.
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_0258.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_0258.jpg.html)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_0273.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_0273.jpg.html)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_0271.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_0271.jpg.html)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_0268.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_0268.jpg.html)
I like that shadow in the last pic, jay!
QuoteOriginally posted by gregg dudley:
I like that shadow in the last pic, jay!
Thanks Gregg, I've been lucky to capture that image a few times while afield.
Like Gregg, I've been blessed to have the chance to hunt a bunch of states - 12 in total and 9 of those 12 being with other trad guys as a result of the St. Jude auction or TG in general. As of yet, I haven't had a bad experience. I was really looking forward to meeting Jeremy, Jay and Travis and getting the opportunity to hunt with Gregg again, but life (and death) happens and I needed to be with my family these last several days.
Missing a chance to chase critters is one thing, but missing a chance to share a camp with these guys and eat Andre's cooking just hurts. However, I have a feeling we'll be able to get together sometime in the not-too-distant future. Your generous offer to St. Jude and the lengths you went to make Gregg and I feel prepared is greatly appreciated. If offered again, the winner won't get it cheaply!
Unfortunately a serious sickness in the family prevented me from being there. I was looking forward to the hunt, food and sipping a little whiskey. No doubt it was a great experience as these guys are top notch. Maybe next time.
A few pics from Jeremy:
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_20161230_155919516.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_20161230_155919516.jpg.html)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_20161230_155914301.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_20161230_155914301.jpg.html)
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_20161230_155908054.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_20161230_155908054.jpg.html)
More...
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(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e209/jaycurole/IMG_20161230_081845625.jpg) (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/jaycurole/media/IMG_20161230_081845625.jpg.html)
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