Deer season 2022-23 is in the history books and here’s hoping that you have something to hang on the wall to show for your efforts. Don’t have anything?
Maybe you’ve been doing it all wrong.
Daniel Colvin has access to 1300 acres of family property in Union Parish, land not really known for being able to produce trophy bucks. Even so, he has mounts of 18 bucks hanging on his wall scoring between 150 and 170 inches, bucks he has taken from his Union Parish property.
Is he the luckiest deer hunter around or is he on to something that allows the growth of bucks that size on property not known for the production of trophy bucks?
“I’m serious about getting the best from the deer in my area,” said Colvin. “I work at it all year long and there are several things I have discovered that have helped me and will help anyone who is interested in growing bigger deer no matter what kind of property they hunt.”
Colvin is offering what he has learned to any property owner serious about improving the lot of deer they hunt.
“I’ll contract with property owners to assess their land, see what I think is not helping and offer assistance in getting the right things done. If anyone is serious about wanting to grow bigger deer, the most important thing right off the bat is to control the trigger finger. You shoot a 120 inch buck and he’s never going to make it to 140,” Colvin said.
Controlling what grows on the land as well as supplementing food sources to give deer the best and most nutritional foods is important, he said. Control burning and timber thinning is an easy tool to trigger growing of forage plants that deer prefer. In addition, the use of minerals is of utmost importance, he noted. The principle need for foraging animals is salt because as soon as a deer gets a belly full of browse materials, he’ll head for a salt lick which aids in water
retention.
“Minerals such as salt supplemented with calcium phosphorus is important because during the growing season, minerals are pulled from the bone structure to grow antlers and minerals provide those that are depleted,” said Colvin.
The establishing of food plots is another matter that is often not done in the best possible method as a property owner is more likely to take advantage of a logging set to plant a food plot.
“If you plant it and fertilize a small area such as this, deer will eat it up in a month. My food plots are usually three to five acres each and it will draw the deer that are in the area. I’ll often see 25-30 deer a day on my plots. These will draw in the does and when you attract them, especially during the rut, the bucks will follow ,” he said.
Colvin keeps records of the deer on his property and he feels this is very important so that he can know what is there. The use of remote cameras is another tool he feels is quite valuable in keeping up with individual deer and seeing what they’re doing from one year to the next.
“I try to get my deer to imprint on a particular spot and my food plots help me
accomplish that and cameras help validate it. Several of the deer I have hanging on my wall I have kept up with them for several years from what I see on cameras as well as shed antlers I find,” he said.
Anyone interested in visiting further with Colvin to contract with him on their personal hunting woods can contact him by telephone at 501/554-2824 or searching for him on Facebook.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Sight fishing for bedded bass has been fairly successful with soft plastics, topwater crankbaits, spinners, and jerk baits working best. Crappie are still in fairly deep water around brush and hitting shiners or jigs. No report on bream or catfish. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498, or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU – Crappie have moved up around the trees and fishing is good on shiners or jigs. Bass is improved with slow-rolling spinner baits working around the trees. No report bream. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707 for the latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Big bass are continuing to be caught flipping creature baits around the trees. Crappie are scattered around the brush and fair. For the latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still high, except for catfishermen, few anglers have been going out. For the latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Some crappie have moved up and are being caught in 2-3 foot water while others are still hanging back in 8-10 foot water. Bass fishing has been good with spinners, crankbaits, and Carolina rigs in the shallows with mostly buck bass (males) being caught now as the big females have yet to move in. Bream are not yet ready but lots of catfish were caught fishing cold worms and night crawlers off the banks. For the latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Bass are starting to move to the beds with Sinko’s landing some nice fish. Crappie are still best fishing around brush with jigs and shiners picking up some fish. Stripers are beginning to show up and hitting shad imitations. No report on bream or catfish. For the latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfishing is good. Crappie have backed off the banks with cooler weather moving them back. Bass to around 8 pounds has been reported. No report on bream. For the latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is high and over the road for the next 2-3 weeks. No fishermen this week. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
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