Louisiana Sportsman

April 28, 2026

The author and his grandson clear out a trail on their first scouting trip of the season. (Picture by Ricky Aucoin)

Pre-season scouting for deer

August 23, 2024 Ricky Aucoin

Ricky Aucoin shares how he puts in the work and effort necessary to fully prepare for the upcoming deer hunting season.[…]

Make sure your ATV is ready for hunting season

August 23, 2024 Justin Adkins

Being left stranded by your ATV can make for a long day. The situation can be avoided by performing some general pre-season maintenance.[…]

Kade Hillestad, left, and John Kyle Pearce grip the lips of hawgs they caught in January 2024 to finish in the Top 5 at their first MLF college tournament at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida.

ULM Fishing Team members Hillestad and Pearce have banner year

August 23, 2024 Don Shoopman

Kade Hillestad and John Kyle Pearce, ULM Fishing Team members, qualified for three national championship tournaments as a team.[…]

In addition to being a great fishing lake, Sibley Lake serves as the water supply for Natchitoches. (Picture by Terry L. Jones)

The lakes of Natchitoches

August 23, 2024 Terry L. Jones

Natchitoches is surrounded by some of the finest fishing spots in the state. Cane River, Sibley Lake and Red River are all close by.[…]

The Calcasieu River’s name comes from an Atakapas phrase meaning “Crying Eagle.” (Photo by Terry L. Jones)

The rivers of southwestern Louisiana

August 22, 2024 Terry L. Jones

The Mermentau and Calcasieu rivers both hold fresh and saltwater species and both have interesting name origins.[…]

Spinning-wing decoys, such as this one from Mojo Outdoors, create a strobe effect that looks like wings flapping. Birds can see that flash from a long way off. (Photo courtesy Mojo Outdoors)

Bring more doves in range

August 18, 2024 John N. Felsher

Hunters can try these helpful tricks to fool more doves and bring these swift fliers closer for better shots at them.[…]

Jaxon Plaisance, left, and Piers Picou smile ear to ear while hoisting the 2024 LHSBN Junior Division Anglers of the Year plaques high at the state championship banquet.

Picou and Plaisance earn back-to-back Junior Anglers of the Year titles

August 8, 2024 Don Shoopman

Piers Picou and Jaxon Plaisance weighed in at least one keeper bass in 26 consecutive Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation tournaments.[…]

You must tag harvested alligators immediately upon harvest before moving them from where they were captured.

Gearing up for alligator season

August 8, 2024 Christopher Harp

Ryan Evans is an avid outdoorsman and alligator hunter who hunts alligators from Johnson Bayou to Grand Lake.[…]

An angler fly-fishing in the Elk River tailrace below the Tims Ford Dam near Winchester, Tenn. The state of Tennessee periodically stocks brown, rainbow and brook trout in the cold water near the dam. (Photo by John N. Felsher)

Out of State Destinations: The Elk River

July 26, 2024 John N. Felsher

Louisiana sportsmen might catch three wild freshwater trout species in the Elk River where none should exist.[…]

Baylor Allen shows off a catfish caught using jug lines. (Picture by Ricky Aucoin)

Jugging for cats

July 25, 2024 Ricky Aucoin

If you want to experience an exciting type of catfishing, try your hand at jug lining. Quite often you will catch large catfish.[…]

Dove hunting is a great way to introduce children to hunting or involve them in the sport. They usually get to do a lot of shooting and stay more active. It’s a social experience. (Photo courtesy Dennis “Rusty” Barfield)

Managing land properly attracts and holds doves

July 20, 2024 John N. Felsher

For many landowners, dove season begins months before the shooting starts as they prepare their lands to attract and hold birds.[…]

Tickfaw State Park has plenty of water and ways to see it, including this boardwalk in the park. (Photo courtesy Louisiana State Parks)

The scenic rivers

July 18, 2024 Terry L. Jones

Each year, thousands of Louisianians flock to the Tickfaw, Tchefuncte and Amite rivers to swim, fish, ski, canoe and kayak.[…]

How to properly net a fish

July 11, 2024 Brian Cope

Netting a fish properly isn’t too difficult, as long as you follow a few simple rules. These tips will help.[…]

Tyler Covington, left, and Brantley Tate, both of Walker, show a heavy five-bass limit at the weigh-in during a Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation tournament while fishing with the Walker High School Fishing Team.

Walker duo set to engineer bass success at LSU

July 11, 2024 Don Shoopman

Tyler Covington and Brantley Tate made a big splash in high school bass fishing and both will now fish competitively with LSU Bass Fishing.[…]

Toledo Bend Reservoir is named for a bend in the Sabine River near the dam. (Picture by Terry L. Jones)

A look at how Toledo Bend got its name

June 24, 2024 Terry L. Jones

Toledo Bend was chosen to name of the reservoir when the dam was constructed near Toledo, Texas, where the Sabine River makes a large bend.[…]

Russell Jones with Alabama Guide Services shows off a couple spotted bass he caught on an Alabama Rig holding swimbaits while fishing on the Black Warrior River near in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Photo by John N. Felsher)

Out of State Destinations: Black Warrior River

June 23, 2024 John N. Felsher

The Black Warrior River offers some of the best trophy spotted bass fishing in the nation. Visitors can also find loads to do in Tuscaloosa.[…]