A DIFFERENT APPROACH

There are different strokes for different folks.  Sometimes there are tons of ways to approach the subject, but it is, of course, the end result that counts. All your choices are good ones when you can achieve your objective.  It feels so good when a plan comes together.

There are certain accepted practices in the pursuit of the super-smart whitetail deer. The basics most hunters take for granted such as elevation, scent control and concealment are pretty much “givens.”  But not for everybody.

Lake Charles’ own Marvin Lawson with a mountain mule deer that would put a smile on anybody’s face.

Local outdoorsman Zane Carter, has developed a different approach to the great sport of deer hunting. Zano starred for state champion Kinder football team under the legendary Johnny Buck. He went on to college and a great career on some winning McNeese teams. His approach was non-conventional, but effective.

He was especially proud to have won consecutive filthiest room awards in an athletic dorm that was in itself an incredibly filthy place. Zigler Zoo was, without a doubt, a house of horrors and a mother’s worst nightmare.

Zane cut his teeth hunting for squirrels, and has been known to limit out more than his fair share. His run-and-gun style was to cover ground and then settle down and hunt. There isn’t much “still” in Zane’s style of hunting. But, if it works for you, get moving.

As you might expect, Zane’s style of outsmarting whitetail deer is also his own unique style:

Zane was fashionably late, as he stumbled into the quiet woods well after sunrise. The night before, he and some Kinder buddies were up late, swapping stories (lies) about their glory days at Slim’s Club. He toted a lawn chair to a spot he thought looked good and halted. There were no fields of fire, and visibility was 50 yards at best. But it felt right, so he settled into the chair and kicked back.

He was in his element, and he struck a match to a vintage cheap cigar he had been saving for this very occasion. The acrid stench of the dime-store stogie wafted through the woods as Zane got comfortable. This was his version of scent control.

Suddenly a loud rustling of leaves jolted Zane out of his stupor. He readied his shotgun, loaded with buckshot designed for close quarters hunting, and it was showtime. A mature eight-point buck came diddyboppin’ down the trail right into Zane’s kill zone.

Z put the hammer down, and the rest is history.  After a blood-curdling kill call, he folded up the chair, retrieved his buck, and headed to the house a happy Yellow Jacket.

The recent state champion Kinder team invited Zane to address the team as a former state champ. Contents of his speech were mercifully not made public. But he must have said something right, judging from the way Kinder rocked the dome. One thing is for certain.  He did it Zane’s way.

The hunting seasons are winding down as some real winter weather blows in.  Temperatures are forecast in the 20s, so break out the long johns.  There is hunting to be done, so don’t leave anything on the table. Get out there and experience the cold, but bundle up!