Luling fisherman witnesses rare wildlife event in Lake Cataouatche

Courtesy photo

Jon Winn, of Luling, took this photo of a large alligator dragging away a piebald deer. Piebald deer are rare in the wild.

Jon Winn, of Luling, decided to try his luck at catching a few bass in Lake Cataouatche, but while fishing in a canal between the Tank Ponds and the La Cypress Canal, he witnessed his own nature special.

He got up close and personal with a large alligator feeding on a piebald deer.

"At first, I thought it was a white trash bag in the water,” Winn said. “As I neared the object, I noticed it was a large gator with a deer in its mouth."

Piebald deer are rare in the wild. Most hunters spend years in the field and never see one. Piebald deer are a result of genetic variation in white tail deer. They are colored white and brown similar to a pinto pony. Sometimes they appear entirely white.

Winn was witnessing a rare wildlife event.

"I have seen alligators that have caught nutrias, marsh birds, garfish and snakes, but never a piebald deer,” Winn said. “I tried following the big gator for a while with my trolling motor, but he drug the deer deeper into the Tank ponds.”

Winn said that when he got close to the gator, it inflated its lungs to appear larger in the water.

“I knew the 9 or 10-foot gator was not scared of my boat and I backed off,” he said. “After the gator disappeared out of sight, I went back to fishing. If you spend enough time in the woods and on the water, you will see things most folks never have a chance to see. "

 

Fishing, hunting license renewal

Recreational anglers ages 16 and over using any of the recreational gear must purchase a new fishing license before July 1.

New year fishing license are on sale now.

Recreational fishing and hunting licenses may be purchased online at www.la.wildlifelicense.com, or by telephone using a Visa or MasterCard. Call toll free 1-800-765-2602.

A basic fishing license will cost $9.50 and a saltwater license is $5.50. Seniors, 60 and over, only have to pay $5.