Lightning Strikes Twice for Jordon on Honey Brake
(Louisiana’s deer season has been over for several weeks and I have been privileged to
write stories on the impressive bucks taken for LA Sportsman’s magazine taken. Here’s my story of the most impressive buck I coveredthat is likely to be a new state record for the typical category.)
When Tyler Jordan shot a huge buck on December 7, 2020, he made a prediction that
fortunately didn’t hold true.
“I may never shoot another 190 inch buck. I’m in the woods a lot and I have never seen a buck that size,” Tyler told me when I wrote the story for LA Sportsman about a huge buck he had taken, a buck that scored 190 4/8 inches of mass. The buck earned the name of “Stomper”.
Jordan was hunting in Catahoula Parish on the 20,000 acre Honey Brake property when he took the buck. Fast forward four years when Jordan, now age 32 encountered a buck that has earned the name of Stomper, Jr. because of similar genetics as Stomper.
The son of Bill Jordan, founder and CEO of Real Tree, Tyler works in the marketing
department of the company. He lives in Columbus, GA.
“We became interested in Honey Brake in 2018 and would bring business guests down to duck hunt. We had no idea at first that the property was capable of producing quality deer but as we learned what the folks at Honey Brake were doing our interest was piqued,” said Jordan.
Putting out trail cameras this past September, plenty of quality bucks began showing up but it was not until November 1 that Stomper Jr. started showing up on cameras.
“We purchased a ground blind to set up on the food plot where we felt was the best
chance to see the deer. One afternoon, two minutes after legal shooting hours had ended, Stomper Jr. showed up at 20 yards. A camera man and I were in the blind and apparently the buck saw the camera light and he spooked and took off. We didn’t see any more evidence of him for 2 ½ weeks,”
Jordan recalled. It became an issue of looking for favorable weather when deer
would more likely to be active.
“On December 2, I checked the weather forecast and it looked like things would be pretty decent and I felt that if deer would move at all, it might be then. We had the north wind we needed and on the morning of December 3, he showed up four minutes before legal shooting time,” he said.
Setting up a ground blind in the area where this photo was taken, Jordan got in the blind around 2:30 the afternoon of December 5.
“There was plenty of action as does and smaller bucks were displaying rutting activity
and then at 5:10, I looked up and there stood Stomper Jr. I shoot a Franchi .308 and got on him. When I hit the trigger, he dropped on the spot,” Jordan continued.
The rack the 250 pound buck carried was mind boggling. There were 14 points, evenly
distributed on each side and the inside spread was 19 5/8 inches. Main beams were 26 ½ inches each with bases measuring 5 2/8 and 5 1/8. The buck was determined to be 6 ½ years old.
The tale of the tape measured a gross score of 203 inches with the net score being 192 3/8 inches.
The previous Louisiana state record for typical whitetail bucks is a record that has held
since 1939 when Marshall McKay downed a massive buck in Madison Parish that measured 186 6/8 inches. After a drying time of 60 days, it is very likely that Tyler Jordan can lay claim to a new Louisiana state record for typical bucks.
Well Tyler, you won’t ever be able to say what you told me in 2020 that you may never shoot another 190 inch deer. You just did.
Fishing Report
CANEY LAKE – Crappie fishing has improved in the back of the creeks as they prepare for the spawn. Shiners and jigs are bringing some in. Bass are moving to the shallows and soft plastics and crank baits are starting to pick up fish. Chinquapins are just now starting the bite cold worms. No report on 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.
BUSSEY BRAKE – The bass have moved up shallow around the windrows with some double digit fish reported on soft plastics and spinners. Crappie should be starting to move toward the banks and hitting shiners and jigs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The river is high and rising. No fishing report. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE –Crappie have moved to the banks and have been good on shiners and jigs. Bass are on the shallow flats and hitting spinners and soft plastics. Bream are just beginning to hit crickets and worms and catfish are biting. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has improved as the fish are moving to the shallows in back of the creeks and hitting shiners and jigs. Bass are also moving in and are being caught on Bandit crank baits and soft plastics. Bream are beginning to respond to crickets and worms in shallow water. No report on catfish or stripers. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927- 2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Crappie fishing is starting to improve as the fish begin their move to the shallows to spawn. Catfishing is good and a few bream are starting to show up. For information, contact the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – No report. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.