Johnetta Hortan – Diva In A Deer Stand
As an outdoor writer, this is my favorite time of year. I get to write about all the big bucks taken by hunters around the state. People have started referring successful hunters to me, which helps a lot. Another way I find out about these buck slayers is online, especially by checking sites like Louisiana Deer Hunters.
It was while I was taking down names and getting information from that site when I ran across a post that stopped me dead in my tracks. There was no big buck involved, but a hunter had posted photos of taking a nice doe, mentioned loading it alone, and was headed back to the woods “looking for horns”.
What is so unusual about that? Deer hunters do that all the time. What grabbed my attention was the smiling photo of the successful hunter. I have written outdoor columns for the past 46 years, and while some of my stories have been about female hunters and, on occasion, articles have covered the success of black male hunters, I have never, not one time, written a story about a black female hunter, until now.
Meet Johnetta Horton of Shreveport. After seeing her photo with a deer she had taken and loaded herself, I had to talk with this lady. I found her on Facebook, gave her a call, and ended up making a new friend who can put the majority of us deer hunters to shame. Here is Ms. Horton’s story…
“I retired from the Libby Glass plant in Shreveport after working there for 35 years. Most of my co-workers were white guys, and the majority of them are hunters. I would always listen to them talk about hunting, and they realized I was really interested in finding out more about hunting. I asked if just anybody could hunt, and when they saw I was serious, these guys took me under their wing and were quick to share their deer hunting stories and tips with me. When I told them I thought I was ready to hunt, they kidded me, saying I was too much of a ‘diva’ to get into hunting. This just lit my fire, and I told them ‘we’ll see about that,’” was Horton’s response.
“With the help of my dad, I learned to shoot, then went out and bought all my hunting clothes, found a place to hunt, and went hunting. Three years after my first hunt, I got my first deer, a 9-point buck weighing 200 pounds with an 18 ¼ inch inside spread. Everybody was amazed that I got a deer that big and got it loaded and out of the woods all by myself. I was even featured in the Shreveport Times’ Bragging Corner, where they show photos of hunters with game they had bagged,” she said.
Today, Johnetta Horton, who identifies herself in her email address as “Black Huntress,” and at the time belonged to a hunting club in Webster Parish and hunted every day of deer season that she could. She now shoots a Browning bolt action 30.06 and over the past 20 years, she has averaged two to three deer a year. Do the math; that’s 40 to 60 deer, success most hunters would envy.
“I now hunt on private property near Sibley in Webster Parish, where I have permission to hunt. I hunted every day I could without getting a deer, and as the season was closing last Sunday, I figured I’d come up empty this year,” she said.
Did she end the season without a deer? Nope – at 5:00 pm on the afternoon of the last day, a big doe stepped out, and she dropped it.
Johnetta Horton might be thought of by some to be a “diva”, but in her mind, she’s a “diva in a deer stand”.
Courtesy photo
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE – Bass are in the deeper holes with soft plastics and crank baits picking up some nice fish. Crappie are in the deeper holes with just out from the spillway. They are best on shiners and jigs. Some have moved up in response to warmer temps. 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 –Crappie are hanging out just off the bottom. Fishing has been good fishing jigs or shiners near the bottom. Bass fishing has been good flipping jigs and soft plastics around brush.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still quite low because of lock and dam problems down stream. Bass are best fishing shad imitation in the run-outs; crappie fishing has been good around the tops in the river in 12-14 foot water using shiners and jigs. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass are best over deeper water in the channels. Jigs and crank baits are picking up some. Some have moved up around cover in response to warmer temps. Crappie are near the bottom in 20 foot water on jigs and shiners but they have also moved up for the time being. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie are best just out from the spillway in deep water on jigs and shiners with some moving up to the edge of the points and drops. Bass are hitting crank baits and soft plastics in deeper water. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are good while crappie have improved fishing with jigs and shiners around the south end of the lake. For information, call the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The lake level is on a slight fall. Catfishing is good, buffalo and catfish are being caught in nets. Some good crappie were caught this week around deep brush. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.
