"Although Deer Point Lake isn't a huge lake and doesn't require any real long crossings, it's prudent to exercise extreme caution when the lake is white-capping," Kirkland continued. "Wearing a lifejacket or inflatable life vest over waders is a great idea. And since the lake is full of stumps, it's important to have a game plan for getting to your destination, especially in the dark. Go slow and deliberate, and make sure you have the proper running light for nighttime navigation."

Kirkland recommended several hunting areas on or connected to the lake.

"On the northern end of the lake, just above the powerlines that run in an east-to-west path, there are great areas to hunt, but you'll need a shallow draft boat to access this area. Farther north of that area are stumpfields that provide great cover to hide in" he said. "Also, Cedar Creek, just north of Tharte's Fish Camp, and Bear Creek, located in the northeast quadrant of the lake, offer great locations for hunting wood ducks.

"Econfina Creek, located at the extreme northern end of the lake, offers great hunting opportunities," he added. "However, on this creek, no boat with a motor greater than 10 horsepower is allowed north of State Route 388.

"On an eastern arm of the lake called Bayou George, although it holds a lot of development, hunters can find some remote areas to take ducks, too," he concluded.

For further information on hunting Deer Point Lake, including bag limits, contact Stan Kirkland at (850) 265-3677. You can e-mail any questions regarding the lake through the web site at www.myfwc.com, and they will be forwarded to Kirkland at the FWCC Northwest Region.

ANOTHER OPTION
Although hunting the opening weekend for wood ducks at Deer Point was a memorable experience, it was not my first visit to the lake. In November of last year, Capt. Jones convinced me to drive over and try some moorhen hunting. A waterfowl with somewhat chicken-like movements, a moorhen can be easily mistaken for a coot if you're not paying close attention to the bird. One of a moorhen's most distinguishing traits is the red coloration at the base of its beak, most noticeable in mature birds.

Locating moorhens was quite easy. Capt. Jones simply motored his 9-year-old son Jonah and me around the lake until we spotted birds feeding along marsh edges, perched on stumps and logs or on the lake's vast lily pad patches. Once birds were located, Todd would shut down the small outboard and paddle us within 25 to 30 yards of the dark-hued birds. When we were in gunning range, Jonah's .410 shotgun did most of the damage that day.

Although moorhens seemed quite plentiful on the lake, and we were allowed 15 birds per day, we limited our kill to just enough birds for supper. Back at the Jones' residence, the birds were skinned, cleaned and deep-fried. To my astonishment, they were very flavorful, with a taste resembling that of a dove. That tour of this gorgeous body of water led to my later wood duck adventure there.

TO PURCHASE LICENSES AND CHARTS
Hunting licenses and detailed nautical charts of Deer Point Lake and local bays can be purchased at Half Hitch Tackle located at 2206 Thomas Drive in Panama City Beach. The store can be contacted by phone at (850) 234-2612. Check out their web site at www.halfhitch.com.

Also, a good local source for licenses, duck calls, decoys, guns and shotgun shells is C&G Sporting Goods located at 137 Harrison Avenue, in Panama City. Contact the store by phone at (850) 769-2317.

ACCESS
Deer Point Lake can be reached by taking a number of exits off U.S. 231. The lake has boat-launching sites at the Bay Head North Ramp at the north end of Cherokee Street; the Bay Head South ramp at the south end of Cherokee Street; the High Point Boat Ramp at the end of DeLen Drive; the Cherokee Landing Boat Ramp on County Road 2301; and the Ira Hutchinson Boat Ramp on the southeast side of the Deer Point Bridge.