Variety of Game for Hunting Enthusiasts Around Acadiana

One of the most popular outdoor activities in the fall involves being alone in the woods. Hunting is an extremely popular hobby and some are even competitive with their craft. Lafayette, Louisiana, surprisingly offers some great hunting spots, including areas where there are deer, turkey, duck, and quail.

Pass A Loutre Wildlife Management Area

This area is accessible only by boat and there are numerous marshes, nooks, and crannies that wildlife can hide in. That makes it an ideal spot for duck hunting. The ducks flock to the area because there is a near-constant supply of food with submerged vegetation because of the intertwining waterways. Here you can snag your fair share of a variety of fowl including the prized mallards.

Bayou Teche Hunting Preserve

This preserve offers hunters a chance to shoot multiple types of game. They offer guided upland hunting, and they even provide the assistance of a group leader and a guide dog if you choose. The preserve has hunting dogs available for purchase as well. The game included in group or individual hunts include pheasants, quail, chukar, and wild hog. Their preserve is handicap accessible and there are restroom facilities on-site as well.

Atchafalaya Basin

Home to the largest backwater swamp in the United States, the Atchafalaya Basin is one of the best spots for hunting waterfowl. Some of the birds that migrate here for the winter months include mallards, gadwalls, and widgeon. It’s only accessible by a boat and navigating to the most interior of the marshes requires the finesse of a canoe.

Russell Sage Wildlife Management Area

This wildlife retreat is over 17,000 acres and is mostly full of marshes, bogs, and bayous. The flooded areas have allowed waterfowl to flock to it in the winter months for the shallow waters and vast food supply. The ducks here are numerous and part of the area is controlled flooded wilderness, so there’s no shortage of prey.

What most hunters enjoy is the accessibility of the area. There’s no need to make the trip by boat because, while the area is flooded and water-logged, the hunting locations are easy to wade through and are only a quick ATV trek through the park.

Catahoula Lake

Hunters will not only get their fill of fine quality hunting at this lake, but they will also be treated to some breathtaking views as well. There is a feeling of tranquility while watching the mist and fog rise from the swamps and deep interior of the lake. It is Louisiana’s largest freshwater lake, which draws some different species of waterfowl because of the diverse food supply available. The lake is also poorly drained which creates a constant supply of food making migration easy. This lake is also known to draw in Canvasbacks, one of the most sought-after trophies.

Whether you’re in the mood to score some waterfowl or prefer your hunting on dry land, Louisiana has a lot to offer hunters. Nature lovers can also bask in some breathtaking scenery with a dog in tow.

Image via Flickr by MSMcCarthy Photography | CC BY 2.0 | Cropped from original

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