Mornings On The Marsh

Wildlife conservation is something I hold close to my heart.  I've been an avid outdoorsman for a very long time. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of chasing bugs and hiking through the woods on our property in Texas and Virginia.  I started hunting my freshman year of high school. The main focus of hunting in Virginia is big game (deer, elk, bear).  So, for the most part, the range of my hunting experience has been limited to the confines of a tree stand in the middle of the woods.  Not saying that sitting in a stand is bad, but it can get pretty boring.  There have been numerous times that I've woken my butt up at the crack of dawn, trekked through snow and mud, only to sit in a tree for an entire day and come up empty handed.  However, it's not all about harvesting an animal when you go out.  I find extreme pleasure in just being outside, losing cell service, and getting close to nature.  Driving home with some meat in the back of the truck at the end of the day is just an added bonus.  

When I came to LSU I wanted to immerse myself in the sportsman culture Louisiana offers.  However, due to strict federal and state laws, one cannot just pick up a firearm, waltz down the street and start blasting anything that moves.  There's a little more red tape than that.  I eventually landed a spot on a hunting trip to the east shore of Lake Charles last September on the opening weekend of duck season.  The experience was unlike any other.  When my co-worker told me that we would see our first ducks at 6:09 I thought he was joking.  I kid you not, at 6:08 I was sending my first shells down range.

Waterfowl hunting is an experience unlike any other. It took all my previous feelings and expertise in the hunting world and flipped them upside down.  After that day a year ago, I'm truly infatuated with the nonstop action and adrenaline pumping atmosphere it provides.  I'm looking forward to researching where the sport came from and where its headed. Hopefully, I can get some field research in as well. 

Teal Hunting in Lake Charles, LA-- Sept. 2012

Deer Hunting in Leesburg, VA-- Winter Break 2012