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John's Journal... Entry 179, Day 5

GILES ISLAND

Being A Deer Guide on Giles Island

EDITOR'S NOTE: Chad Pugh partners with Jimmy Riley on the Giles Island Lodge.

Question: How long have you been guiding on Giles Island?
Answer: Ten years.

Question: For what type of deer does Giles Island manage?
Answer: Trophy white-tailed bucks. A trophy is a 130-class deer with a bow and 150 with a gun.

Question: You and I recently hunted together. Let's discuss that deer we saw. How far was the buck when you first spotted him?
Answer: He was about 150 yards away.

Question: Tell me about his rack.
Answer: He was a tall and tight 10-point buck. His tines were probably 11 inches across. His main beam was 22 inches across. He was a typical 9-point with a sticker on his G2 that made him a 10 point.

Question: What would he have scored?
Answer: About 140 points on the B&C scale.

Question: How much would that deer weigh?
Answer: 190 pounds.

Question: How close did he get?
Answer: Sixty yards.

Question: Why wouldn't you let me shoot that deer?
Answer: Because he had to score 150 points on the B&C scale for you to harvest him since you were shooting a gun.

Question: Anybody would be proud with that size deer. How old do you think he was?
Answer: Two-and-one-half years old.

Question: Tell me about the other deer we saw.
Answer: We saw another tall and tight 10-point buck. He was probably 2-1/2-years old. He was close to 140 points. He had 11-inch tines. His G2s and G3s were 11-inches. His G4s were probably 4-1/2 inches and 3 inches. His brow tines were short. He was a young deer. He probably weighed 180 pounds.

Question: Why wouldn't you let me shoot that deer?
Answer: He didn't score 150 points on the B&C scale. He would have been a shooter for a bow hunter.

Question: Why is it so hard to judge deer on Giles Island? Why do most people need a guide?
Answer: Most people aren't familiar with scoring a deer on the hoof.

Question: What are you looking for in a shooter deer?
Answer: Long main beams, long tines and mass. You need 4-1/2 inches at least.

Question: How long do a buck's brow tines need to be?
Answer: About 4 inches. The spread doesn't count. That's only 10-percent of the score. A good buck needs long beams and a heavy mass.

Question: How do you know if the deer is a shooter?
Answer: It's big. We've seen so many that we just know whether or not they're shootable.

Question: How do you tell to shoot the 130s?
Answer: A deer must have at least 10-inch tines. You still need a long main beam and a little bit of mass.

Question: Most people pass up bigger deer than they've ever taken before here, right?
Answer: It's tough, I know. But it's part of the program. It's what keeps people coming back, because they know there are big deer out there.

Question: Why are you trying to get rid of 8 points?
Answer: Because genetically it's hard for an 8-point to score high on the B&C system. We want our 10s and above to be breeder bucks. With a bow hunter, we'll let you shoot a 3-1/2-year-old 8 point, regardless of his size. If they're 8-points, they always will be. We have a deer called White Patch that's proven that. He's 8-1/2-years old and has been an 8 point since he was 3-1/2 years old.

Question: Why do you call him White Patch?
Answer: Because he has a white, heart-shaped patch above his flank.

Question: Why are you only taking 150 point or better bucks?
Answer: Because that's a good trophy.

Question: You see a lot of broken tines, right?
Answer: Yes. It's because they're fighting. Our buck-to-doe ratio is 1-to-1, so there's a lot of fighting. The deer will also have a lot of scars and scratches.

To learn more about Giles Island, write 461 Old River Boat Camp Road, Ferriday, LA 71334, call (877) 944-5374, or visit www.gilesisland.com.

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about GILES ISLAND ...

Day 1 - Dream Bucks on Giles Island
Day 2 - The History of Giles Island
Day 3 - Planting on Giles Island
Day 4 - Giles Island Deer Management
Day 5 - Being A Deer Guide on Giles Island


John's Journal