DISTRICT VI
District VI is rather huge, encompassing much of the Atchafalaya Basin and lands west; it incorporates the parishes of Avoyelles, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, Lafayette, St. Martin, W. Baton Rouge, Iberville, Iberia, St. Martin, St. Mary, Assumption and Terrebonne. Numerous trophy whitetails show up in Louisiana Big Game Records including a 180 5/8 B&C 13-point typical taken by Shawn Ortego in 1975 at Thistlethwaite WMA in St. Landry Parish.

Thistlethwaite has delivered a few more trophy whitetails in the record book: two modern gun trophies above 160 B&C, two archery trophies above 130 B&C, and two muzzleloader trophies above 130 B&C.

Thistlethwaite's 11,000 acres are managed by the LDWF for top-quality whitetail hunting. Since 2005, the LDWF has been conducting a test management program aimed at increasing the presence of quality bucks.

According to Tony Vidrine at LDWF District VI, hunters are only able to take spikes or bucks with at least 4 antler points on one main beam at Thistlethwaite. This type of "slot restriction" on antlered bucks is an experimental attempt by area biologists to move at least 50 percent of the bucks usually taken at 1 1/2 years of age or younger into the older buck segment of the deer herd. The taking of all other bucks not meeting these restrictions will be prohibited.

Gun-hunting usually begins here the Friday after Thanksgiving. For more information on season dates and special weapons seasons, contact the LDWF, 5652 Highway 182, Opelousas, LA 70570; (337) 948-0255.

Lake Ophelia NWR's 17,500 acres lie in Avoyelles Parish north of Marksville. This area was once part of an immense hardwood bottomlands tract bordering the Mississippi River. In the last few years, this area has produced several magnificent trophy whitetails to archers and hunters with muzzleloaders. Three weekend lottery hunts occur each year here -- one in December, the others in January. The balance of the season is archery endeavors.

For maps and more information, contact Lake Ophelia NWR, 401 Island Road, Marksville, LA 71351; (318) 253-4238.

DISTRICT VII
This district encompasses a trophy area known as the "Florida Parishes," which includes West Feliciana, East Feliciana, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, St. Tammany, Livingston and portions of East Baton Rouge. Other parishes in District VII are Ascension, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, Lafourche, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines.

Quite a few respectable trophies have been taken here, including: a 174 5/8 B&C 11-point typical taken in 1992 by Robert Lee in Tangipahoa Parish; a 203 2/8 non-typical taken by Sonny Sykes in 1994; a 164 6/8 B&C 15-pointer taken by Brad Sandridge in 1992 in West Feliciana Parish; an 11-pointer harvested by bow scoring 137 by Guy Bergeron in East Feliciana Parish; a 135 7/8 P&Y 12-pointer taken by Jay McCleary, Jr. in West Feliciana in 1993; and a 155 P&Y trophy taken by Tom Sawyer in 1997. Also, the two of the top archery non-typicals have come from the Florida Parishes -- a 203 5/8 19-pointer taken by Rodney Lee in 1983 and a 157 3/8 13-pointer taken by Milton Johnson in 1991.

Most of the lands in this District are private and some are managed for quality trophies. However, Tunica Hills WMA in West Feliciana offers hunters a possibility.

Some if not all of the above data, we hope, will assist you in locating and scoring on a trophy. Happy hunting!

Find more about Louisiana fishing and hunting at: LAgameandfish.com