Caught in Cane River Lake, 1930s. Courtesy of Chamber of Commerce Collection, Cammie G. Henry Research Center, Watson Memorial Library, Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Caught in Cane River Lake, 1930s. Courtesy of Chamber of Commerce Collection, Cammie G. Henry Research Center, Watson Memorial Library, Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
Louisiana State Wild Life Refuges. From Report of Conservation Commission of Louisiana, 1916.
Louisiana State Wild Life Refuges. From Report of Conservation Commission of Louisiana, 1916.
Danny, Lee, and David Felterman in Patterson, Louisiana, 1962. Courtesy of Danny Felterman.
Danny, Lee, and David Felterman in Patterson, Louisiana, 1962. Courtesy of Danny Felterman.
Alligator Hides, 1959. Many Louisiana hunters and trappers would supplement their income with alligator hunting. The hides being prepared in this photo will be tanned and made into luxury items to be sold in New Orleans. Courtesy of Louisiana State University Libraries, Louisiana Sea Grant Digital Images Collection.
Alligator Hides, 1959. Many Louisiana hunters and trappers would supplement their income with alligator hunting. The hides being prepared in this photo will be tanned and made into luxury items to be sold in New Orleans. Courtesy of Louisiana State University Libraries, Louisiana Sea Grant Digital Images Collection.
Left to Right: Chef Gus Caradjas, Harvey S. Firestone Jr. of Firestone Tire and Rubber, and guide Charley Johnson at the state-owned Conservation Club near the mouth of the Mississippi, 1936. Courtesy of LSU Special Collections, Seymour Weiss Papers.
Left to Right: Chef Gus Caradjas, Harvey S. Firestone Jr. of Firestone Tire and Rubber, and guide Charley Johnson at the state-owned Conservation Club near the mouth of the Mississippi, 1936. Courtesy of LSU Special Collections, Seymour Weiss Papers.
Bohan “Bo” DeHart with Alligator, 2017. This photo was taken at Johnny’s Seafood alligator dock in Berwick, Louisiana. Courtesy of the DeHart family.
Bohan “Bo” DeHart with Alligator, 2017. This photo was taken at Johnny’s Seafood alligator dock in Berwick, Louisiana. Courtesy of the DeHart family.
Louisiana alligator-skin mens’ boots, mens’ shoes, and ladies’ purse, ca. 2020. Items acquired from Acadian Leather, owned and operated by Marco Dermody in Clinton, Louisiana.
Louisiana alligator-skin mens’ boots, mens’ shoes, and ladies’ purse, ca. 2020. Items acquired from Acadian Leather, owned and operated by Marco Dermody in Clinton, Louisiana.

Lunkers, Specklebellies, & Cocodries: Business and Leisure on the Louisiana Bayou

Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum
Tue, October 01, 2024

For many Louisianans, there is no better way to spend time than bass fishing, or waterfowl and alligator hunting. From Cane River Lake to Bayou Black and Lake D’Arbonne to Lacassine Pool, anglers seek out lunkers (large-size bass) year round. And each year, hunters across the state eagerly await waterfowl hunting season, beginning with teal ducks in September and specklebelly (white-fronted) geese and other species in November. Similarly, many hunters look forward to alligator hunting season, the east zone opening in August, and the west in September. In the “Sportsman’s Paradise” of Louisiana, these activities are not just pastimes but a way of life revolving around remote camps, favorite dishes, and time with family and friends. 

This exhibition explores the worlds of bass fishing and waterfowl, alligator, and deer hunting in Louisiana, from the rich habitat that supports the wildlife to the men and women who not only cast and shoot but create lures and decoys, cook the catch, and fashion high-end luxury goods out of the leather. It also traces the evolution of fishing and hunting regulations, from early conservation measures to modern game management.