By: Glynn Harris
This is a busy time of year for me with my assignment from LA Sportsman magazine to interview successful hunters and write stories about how they took trophy bucks. There has been little time to cover other matters regarding the outdoors as long as deer season is going on.
I ran across one story, though, that temporarily placed Louisiana’s big bucks and how they were taken on the back burner for a bit.
This is a deer story but it reached its peak, not in Louisiana but in Kansas. The subject of this story is a 17 year high school senior at Cedar Creek school in Ruston. The subject happens o be a young lady. Anna Kate Scriber, daughter of Ruston painting contractor and police juror, Glenn Scriber.
Anna Kate developed an interest in hunting by tagging along with her dad as he chased turkeys and deer across Louisiana.
“She started hunting deer herself at the age of 11 when she was the recipient of a Whitetails Unlimited sponsored hunt,” her dad explained. Anna Kate was successful in downing a big doe on this hunt, and her deer hunting fever ramped up a notch
Glenn Scriber has been involved in a hunting club in Kansas for several years and has taken several nice bucks there. When Anna Kate was 15, it took very little arm twisting for her to talk her dad into letting her accompany him on his trip to Kansas.
“Anna Kate kept things going with her interest in hunting deer as she was able to down a very respectable 135 inch 9 point buck that season,” said Scriber.
When this year’s hunting season rolled around, Glenn Scriber began packing his gear for his annual deer hunting foray in Kansas taking Anna Kate with him. Here’s the way Scriber described the hunt where his daughter proved her prowess as a genuine deer hunter.
“Kansas has long been known for its trophy whitetail deer, but to down a really impressive one requires patience and preparation with a bit of luck to go along with it.
“On a beautiful sunny, cold crisp and calm afternoon, all of the above fell in place for my daughter,” Scriber explained.
While sitting in their deer blind, they watched a group of does and some smaller bucks feeding on the food plot. All of a sudden, all of the deer bolted from the plot and Scriber felt that something was about to happen.
“Ten minutes passed with no other activity and then five minutes later, a true Kansas trophy buck rushed out onto the plot chasing a doe. There was no doubt that this was a ‘shooter’ and Anna Kate was ready for action, placing her .308 on the sandbag getting ready for a shot,” Scriber continued.
However, the buck was anything but cooperative as he began trotting directly away from the blind chasing the doe.
“I whistled to get the buck’s attention hoping he would turn broadside but to no avail. He just kept going and by now, he was near the end of a 400 yard field when he finally stopped and at 375 yards, he turned broadside,” he said.
By putting the crosshairs of her scope on the top of the buck’s back, Anna Kate was able to squeeze off a shot. Walking down to where the deer was standing, there lay a fine 5 ½ year old 10 point buck that gross scored 150 inches.
“It is so special to watch a youngster with interest in learning to hunt be successful. It’s extra special,” Scriber said, “when it’s your daughter.
FISHING REPORT – 12-23-20
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing has been fair around the button willows on jigs, shakey tails and spinners. No report on other species. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU – Bass have been fair to good around around structure on soft plastics. Crappie and bream are slow. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
OUACHITA RIVER – Crappie have been fair in the river lakes and creeks on shiners or jigs. Bass fishing is fair in the cuts and in the back of the river lakes on soft plastics and spinners. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE –Crappie have been best on the edges of the channels on shiners or jigs with some better catches made at night around the lights. Bass continue to be best in the deepest holes in the channels on tail spinners and crank baits. Bream are slow while catfishing is good on cold worms and night crawlers. For latest reports, call Anderson’s Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been good fishing deep and on the flats. In deep water, best results have come from dropping a shiner or jig to the bottom in 30 foot water and reel up four or five turns. Bass fishing has been fair with most of the fish being on the small to medium size. Catfishing has been fair with stripers slow to fair. No report this week on bream. For latest information, call Tim Loftin at Kel’s Cove at 927-2264.
CANEY LAKE – Fishing for bass and yellow bass has been best on jigging spoons and tail spinners bounced off the bottom. Crappie fishing has been fair around deep tops on shiners or jigs especially in the deep water out from the dam. No report on catfish or bream. For latest information contact Bateaux on Caney Lake at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Crappie have been best in the mornings on the south end while afternoons are working best around the boat slips. Catfishing has been fair to good while bass and bream are slow. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318-878-0101.
LAKE ST. JOHN – Bass have been fair to good fishing jigs and soft plastics. Catfishing has been slow to fair while crappie are slow. For information, call Ken Mahoney at 318-201-3821.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is on a three-day standstill before starting to fall. No fishermen this week.. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
LAKE BRUIN – Crappie fishing has been fair on shiners. Other species are slow. For information, contact Carlos Gray at 318/766-0075.
