Hogs And Math Test No Problem For Shackleford

Now that deer season is here, I am once again enjoying the privilege of interviewing successful hunters and writing stories for LA Sportsman magazine about big bucks taken in the state. Here’s one I did last week that had a couple of interesting twists.

Waylon Shackleford, 19 year old who lives in Alexandria, a pre-engineering student at LSU-Alexandria, encountered a couple of strange and interesting things that occurred before he could lay claim to the big 10-point Rapides Parish buck he shot on October 2.

Shackleford hunts on private land where he has permission, land that lies adjacent to the Red River.

“My buddy, Hunter Vaughn, who attends college at UL Lafayette, and I motored across the river, parked the boat, and I headed to my stand about 50 yards from the river while Hunter headed for his stand a couple of hundred yards away. Hunter had shot a nice buck the day before, one that measured in the 120s,” Shackleford began.

Getting into his climbing stand at 5:45, he locked it in at about 25 feet up a big willow, a spot that allowed him to see a draw that makes into sort of a bowl. He had corn scattered out front of the stand.

“Just after 7:00, something came out to the corn, but it wasn’t a deer; it was two big hogs, a boar and a sow. I knew it wasn’t good to have hogs feeding on the corn that could spook the buck I had been seeing on camera. I did what I thought I should do, and I shot the boar, which ran off into the woods. The sow was still there, so I shot her, and she died in the middle of my corn

“I knew it wouldn’t be good to just leave a dead hog lying in the corn, so I got down, dragged the sow to the edge of the river, and climbed back into my stand around 8:00 (a.m.),” he said.

Half an hour later, Shackleford was moving about to get situated in the stand when he heard something walking. It was a big buck that had probably heard him moving around, but stopped at 25 yards and was looking in his direction.

“Then the buck started easing off down the ridge. I shoot left-handed, and he was moving to the left, so I had to reposition myself to be able to shoot at that angle. I saw a small opening, and even though the buck was quartering toward me, I shot when he stepped into the opening at 18 yards. The buck took off,” Shackleford continued.

He texted his friend, Hunter, to come help him look for the deer. They found the arrow and some dark blood, indicating his shot had hit the liver, so it would likely take the deer longer to expire.

Here’s where another wrinkle comes into play for Shackleford. He had to leave the woods, rush back to school to take a math test. Before heading back to the woods, he contacted Brandy Lewis, who has Gator, a good blood trailing dog.

“Brandy met us around 3:30 (p.m.) and the Gator found the deer that had traveled some 250 yards before expiring,” he said.

The buck sported an impressive rack of 10 points with an inside spread of 20 ½ inches. The deer was judged to be 4 ½ years old and weighed 225 pounds. The rack was scored at 151 5/8 inches.

Before finally laying his hands on his buck, Shackleford had two things that stood in the way: two hogs and a math test. Fortunately, he took care of the hogs, and you have to wonder with his mind on the big buck he had yet to find, how he did on his math test.

FISHING REPORT

CANEY LAKE – Bass fishing has been best fishing jigs around the boat docks, with some caught early morning around the grass on topwater lures. Crappie are best around submerged tops in 16-18 foot water with shiners and jigs, taking some nice fish. Bream are fair. 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 – Bass fishing has been good fishing Wacky Worms around the trees. Crappie are best suspended over flats with shiners working best. For the best information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still quite low because of lock and dam problems downstream. Bass are best fishing shad imitation lures in the cuts and run-outs with current. Crappie are around the tops in the river and fair on shiners and jigs. For the latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are best on Chatter Baits and Wacky Worms. Crappie are fair on jigs and shiners as they are suspended over deeper water. Bream are fair. Catfish are good fishing off the banks. For the latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been fair on jigs and shiners suspended over deeper water. Bass are around the banks and hitting topwaters early, while later hitting spinners and soft plastics in deeper water. Bream are scattered. For the latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are good, while crappie are good drifting open water and on the south end. Bass are slow. For information, contact the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The lake is at pool stage. Catfishing is good while bass and crappie are rather slow. For info, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.