Hunting in the Area Pre-1900

Here is an account of an 1898 hunting trip to the area that appeared in the October 19, 1907 issue of a now-defunct periodical called "Forest and Stream". This was a publication of the time similar to, but not affiliated with the familiar magazine "Field & Stream".

The article is titled "Hunting in Louisiana" and tells of a journey by boat that begins in Mooringsport and winds through various unnamed lakes and bayous before the hunters arrive at a large island. There they hunt ducks, geese, partridges, turkey, muskrat, beaver, and deer. They even mention seeing bear as well as an otter. 

In my opinion there is a strong case the hunters were on Pine Island, though it is not identified as such in the article. They mention arriving there after entering Clear Lake, which they got to after leaving Mooringsport. Once they leave the island, they return south down the (Black?) bayou to Soda Lake, then through a (12 mile?) bayou to eventually reach the Red River and return to Shreveport, their arrival point in the area.

Hunting in Louisiana

Editor Forest and Stream:

In November, 1898, Wade Hampton, of Birmingham, met me in a small town in Louisiana, ready for an extended trip on the lakes in the northern portion of the State. We had been on many fishing and hunting trips together and had planned a trip in Louisiana, having heard of its wonderful amount of game, in the way of ducks, geese, turkeys, deer and bear, and anticipated great sport.

Several days were devoted to getting supplies and information about the portion of the State we intended to go through, then we boarded the train for Mooringsport. with our old setter, a trusty companion of many trips, and supplies for several weeks' stay. Arriving at Mooringsport, we purchased a skiff of cypress wood, about 24 feet long by 3 feet broad, equipped with a chest capable of holding a great quantity of supplies and ammunition. The skiff was loaded, and summoning our guides, we all embarked for the trip across the lake.

In the northern part of this State there is a string of lakes extending from Shreveport, La., to Jefferson, Texas, and in times past steamers plied between Jefferson and landings down Red River. The former steamer channel was filled tip, or not deep enough on account of the many levees made on the rivers adjacent to these lakes, and it had been some time since boats were through this part of the State.

After a trip of several hours we finally landed and dismissing our paddlers, who returned. We made camp not far from the camp of a fisherman, who informed us that there were plenty of ducks and geese around in the cypress brakes that covered the lake. We devoted several days to hunting the geese, which were so wild that it was impossible to get in range of them, then decided to go down the lake past Mooringsport and up into a small lake about forty miles south. Accordingly we broke camp early one morning. and embarking, attempted the long journey down the lake and across to M. A stiff wind was blowing, lashing the lake into foam, and causing large waves. We did not know the force of the wind and waves until about a mile from land, when we became aware of the fact that we were going to have a struggle to make the trip in safety. The lake at that point was full of cypress needles and we were in imminent danger of being swamped.

We battled with the elements from early morning until late in the evening, until finally, thinking of a big sail cloth we had to cover our ammunition box, I took an oar, and slipping it through a ring in our chest. so as to hold it steady, we strapped the cloth to the oar and had a sail something on the order of a leg-o'-mutton. and getting before the wind, found we had a great improvement on the oars. The waves were running so high that it was nearly impossible to row, so we put all of our energies into steering the boat before the wind, and finally landed on a sandy beach where the waves broke one behind the other in an endless procession.

We were still on the wrong side of the lake, but it was still blowing a stiff gale, and we decided to wade ashore. camp and try our luck in the morning. So, wet and hungry. we made land, prepared a slight supper and lying down by a roaring fire slept until morning, both being entirely worn out.

The sun came tip bright and warm. We found the wind blowing directly in our faces and had much trouble in getting our boat launched. having to wade out several hundred feet before being successful. Finally after trying for nearly two days, we again found ourselves at M(ooringsport), and started on our long trip into Clear Lake. One mile from M. we entered a narrow bayou or channel connecting the two lakes and followed its narrow and winding way, frequently coming up suddenly on large bunches of ducks and geese, from which we had good sport. In some secluded places were found many muskrats and, beaver, with occasional otter indications, and late in the evening we got a glimpse of deer.

After two days we reached the lake and landed on a large island, well wooded, with undergrowth, the moss hanging in long festoons from tree to tree, making it almost impossible for the sun to shine on the ground. It was the most dismal forest we ever saw. Every imaginable vine trailed from one tree to another, making a perfect network overhead. The ground being covered almost entirely with small undergrowth and palmetto fan leaf, and adding the darkness of the woods, it made a disagreeable picture. We did not much mind the looks of the island, for we had been told of the abundance of game that was to be found there. Deer were plentiful and in the great canebrakes the small black bear was anything but scarce.

We found a suitable landing place, and having heard that somewhere in the interior there was an abandoned hut, we decided to make for it, as we intended to stay several weeks. We therefore pulled our boat well out of the water, and making packs of our bedding and provisions, started on, hardly knowing which way to go. After walking half an hour, we separated and tried to find the place by going in different directions. We had been separated about an hour and neither had found the place. Hamp called every now and then and I answered. I naturally thought he had found the place and would come and help me get our traps there, as my load was very heavy, and I was completely fagged out. He kept calling but still did not come to my assistance, and I got very angry and started toward him, but before going very far I stumbled on the place, but he was nowhere to be found. In a little while he came in and would hardly speak to me because I did not help him with his load. Each thought the other had found the place and would not help. We soon straightened it out. Our old dog, who had faithfully followed us, treed a 'possum, which we had for supper that night.

Early next morning not thirty feet from camp, the old setter came to a stand and flushed a covey of partridges, from which we shot enough for breakfast. Afterward we hunted turkeys, taking our dog with us. After being fooled several times by the dog in the brush, I heard a rustling about fifty yards ahead of me, and thinking it was the dog, waited to see him come out in a little cleared space about ten feet square; but into the cleared spot jumped one of the largest bucks I ever saw. He had a most magnificent pair of antlers and head, and his size was remarkable. I had with me a double-barreled gun, carrying small buckshot in one barrel and turkey shot in the other. I only caught a glimpse of him, but that was sufficient. I fired both barrels at a distance of fifty yards, but the buck was moving so fast and it being so thick I failed to bring him down, although he received part of my buckshot.

I called Hampton, and we started on his trail, which led us for many a mile through dense woods, marshy ground, and finally after trailing nearly all day, it entered a canebrake and we had to give it up, as it was too dense for us to go in, besides we had no bounds to send in ahead of us and stood little chance of coming on the buck in such a place without dogs.

After several days spent in hunting turkeys, it turned off extremely cold and a heavy snow fell and covered the ground about six inches deep. We decided to quit the island and return down the bayou to Soda Lake, away to the south of us. We spent about a week on the bayou. After leaving Soda Lake, there is a bayou that runs into Red River, and has a good current, so that for several miles one can go along without touching the oars. As we were leaving the lake we entered a swift stream of water rushing with great force over a waterfall about ten feet deep. This, some old trappers told us, we would have to go over in order to get into the bayou leading to the river. We decided to risk it, although we were not in favor of it very much—taking a ten-foot drop over a fast running stream, and it winding around like a snake and only thirty yards wide. is not much fun. About two hundred yards above the falls we entered the swift water and shot over the falls like a cannonball, and as our boat was flat-bottomed, we managed by some swift and careful movements to keep her afloat and not be washed into the bank on our many turns.

After rowing all night and being nearly frozen we entered the Red River and stopped at Shreveport, after being out nearly six weeks, and going by skiff over 175 miles.

W. O. WHITAKER

Source: Forest and Stream October 19,1907, page 614

Note: The excerpt below from the 1907 U.S. Geological Survey map shows the area at approximately the time of publication of the article. The geography would have likely been virtually the same at the time of the hunting trip described as this was all prior to the later building of the Caddo Lake Dam. Soda Lake, then a true lake was to the southeast of the area shown in the picture.

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