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The Louisiana Flyway The Geography The Terrain The Hunt |
The Lodge The Cuisine What To Bring Guns and Ammo |
2001-2002 Seasons License Fees Directions Conclusion |
For more than a century, ducks and geese migrating from Canada and the central United States have poured into Southwest Louisiana to gorge themselves on surplus rice. This is the Louisiana Flyway. Under its skies lies a half a million acres of harvest spillings and naturally downed grain. Over it, migrating waterfowl have navigated the same air corridors for generations. Like Salmon of the skies, they return year after year to the same field, in the same family groupings, for the same waiting feast. How they manage this no one knows for sure. Maybe it's in their genes. Maybe they smell the feed on the air. Maybe it's as simple as following their leaders. Maybe they have goose GPS. Whatever it is, tradition rules. The Louisiana Flyway is a well-kept secret that has been producing birds for generations of hunters. Each year, over fifty million waterfowl arrive here in a hunger-frenzy, competing for landing space.
Cajuns are known around the world for their hospitality. This could be the real reason why ducks and geese choose to stop and winter here, at the bottom of the country, in coastal Southwest Louisiana. Could it be that they prefer to linger here because the rest of the trip will be across a long stretch of saltwater. Are they fattening up for the flight? The Louisiana Flyway Lodge is located fifteen miles from the Gulf of Mexico, as the duck flies. Next stop is Mexico...for you birds who choose to fly on.
The first Cajuns to arrive here found freshwater marsh and wetland prairie to homestead. From the 1880's on, it was converted to flooded rice fields via a vast system of canals to drain, contain and control floodwaters. Today, deep-water wells supply the flow more efficiently (the cultivation of rice requires precision flooding and drainage). Of course, this is perfect for waterfowl, especially when there's extra grain to be had in the dabbling. We Cajuns are frugal people. It's not in our nature to waste, especially food. So it does us much good to know that ducks and geese eat what we spill. We know them to be true conservationists and natural ecologists: they convert energy into protein within their bodies, which is how we receive and give thanks for them as they fall from the skies around The Louisiana Flyway Lodge.
We hunt dabbling ducks and geese under natural crop cover in comfortable pit blinds sunken into rice field levees. Transportation is by truck and/or four wheeler along farm roads, levees, and rice felds to the blind. We shoot ducks and geese usually out of combination duck-goose blinds, although separate hunting can be arranged. Because we control the flooding on each side of the blind, we can attract a variety of species. It is not unusual to bag assorted species. All our guides are proficient callers of ducks and geese. The local favorite is Specklebelly (or white-fronted) Goose, which works over decoys beautifully and, as we say around here "takes the call good."
At Louisiana Flyway Lodge our guides were not only born to hunt, some were born hunting. All live nearby and speak Cajun French, Cajun English, Cajun Duck, and Cajun Goose, but not necessarily in that order. Some are supposed to have webbed feet, but we can't guarantee it. On a typical hunt morning, if there is such a thing, they will wake you up with coffee, join you for a short breakfast snack, then lead you to your blind for some early action, usually zooming teal, love-lost mallard drakes coming in on the hen call, and/or B-52 sized geese lumbering overhead in the legal pre-dawn. After sunrise restores to us the world we recognize, just about anything that loves shallow water (3 inches to a foot) might fly in. We get mallards, pintail, mottled ducks, widgeon, greys, teal, shovelers, and assorted scaup. Our geese are Specklebellies, Blues, and Snows, with an occasional Ross' Goose mixed in with the Snows. We hunt our blinds mornings only, to preserve the roosts and reserves, but hunt rag spreads all day, by arrangement. Ask if you can join one in the afternoon.
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The Lodge
Although we are not the biggest lodge at the rice field end of the Louisiana Flyway, we are setting new standards in comfort for a hunting vacation. We have five bedrooms, each with a luxurious private bathroom. Our accommodations, spread over 5,000 renovated square feet, ranges from private to group relaxation. You can choose to socialize in our large recreational area, at the bar, enjoy satellite TV, play cards, shoot pool, or you can escape the crowd by returning to your own private space. Between hunts you can watch the geese through our window wall overlooking the hunting grounds or target practice on clay birds to sharpen your shotgunning skills.
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The Cuisine
Think about the best home cooking you've ever eaten. Think about people who take food preparation and serving guests seriously. Think about eating the game you shoot along with fresh Gulf of Mexico shrimp, oysters, and crabs. Think about Cajun family cooking that is un-exported, down-home, on-the-farm, and the real thing. Think about delicious and talk about good, as we say here. Our guests return for the food as much as they do for the hunting. They want Duck and Sausage Gumbo again. Or Pheasant Stew asap. They want more roasted, stuffed Specklebelly Goose. They want another helping of Blue Goose Gumbo. They want Smothered Teal with Onions, and Rice and Gravy one more time. They want Cajun Yard Chicken Fricassee, Pork Roast with Garlic and Chive Stuffing, Smoked Tur-Ducken (turkey stuffed with duck stuffed with chicken, a special unendangered Cajun specie) Hog Cracklins, Boudin, Jambalaya, Fish Couvillion, and Dirty Rice, too. They want it all again, and again, and so will you. You won't believe how good the food is and how good it is for you. Talk about good!
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What To Bring
Come prepared for cold, wet weather. It is often mild here, but usually wet, for duck's sake. Bring your best waterfowl gear, naturally. Camouflage, please. The birds we hunt are not only intelligent, but they have perfect eyesight. Hip waders are your best bet, giving you more options for movement around the ponds. (Chest waders are not recommended.) Knee boots are OK for most blinds, if you prefer to stay put. If you are 16 years old or over, come with Federal and State Waterfowl Stamps in addition to your Louisiana License (Hunters born after Sept. 1, 1969, must have completed a Hunter Safety Course to purchase a license...proof required).
- A camera
- A small water-proof blind bag or box
- Bug protection
- Well-mannered dogs only
As you know, Federal Law requires steel shot for all waterfowling. Our hunters and guides use modified or improved cylinder chokes to get the job done. Since you will most likely shoot ducks and geese from the same blind, we suggest mixed and assorted shot sizes, according to you familiarity and practice. Our hunters and guides have success with #4, # 3, and #2 steel shot for ducks and #2, #1, BB, and BBB for geese. As with any hunting, it's a matter of personal gunning preference.
Info coming soon.
Conclusion
The only conclusion is that you should come hunt with us at Louisiana Flyway Lodge. We are located in a duck and goose haven, which means a hunter heaven and a waterfowler's sports vacation paradise. Come to southwest Louisiana where Cajuns rule and hospitality is tradition, where we have raised the standards for guest comfort while hunting wild birds. This year, because of conservation and habitat improvement, waterfowl wintering under the Louisiana Flyway are expected at record levels. Whether you come for a personal or a business retreat, spend your hunting vacation with us. Your friends and colleagues will never forget it. Neither will you. Come see for yourself. If you have any questions, please call Josette Hanks at 1-800-215-1965.
Location
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