
3 minute read
FIELD NOTES
by LABI_Biz
BUCKET
Honey Brake Lodge attracts outdoor enthusiasts almost as numerous as its ducks LIST
BY ASHLEY GORDON PHOTOS BY THE CONFLUENCE GROUP

TUCKED AWAY JUST south of Jonesville sits 20,000 acres of land that was once part of Louisiana Delta Plantation—the largest row crop farming operation in the world at one time. Today, the land is brimming with trees, ponds and marsh and attracts wildlife including waterfowl, deer, alligators and even wild hogs. A far cry from the once leveled fields. Now, it is a pilgrimage destination for the avid outdoorsman with an array of recreational opportunities all on one property. And it’s made a name for itself. Written up, filmed, photographed and heralded, Honey Brake Lodge is one of the South’s premier hunting havens, smack dab in the middle of Louisiana.


“Honey Brake has become an outdoor bucket list destination,” says Drew Keeth, CEO of Honey Brake. “People fly in from all over the country.”
And it’s no wonder. Honey Brake is nestled on the banks of Larto Lake and its tributaries, 13 miles from Catahoula Lake and 16 miles from the Mississippi River. This location has been brimming with ducks and geese for centuries, but now all waterfowl enthusiasts have access to what was once only known and hunted by locals. Honey Brake’s 13,800-squarefoot lodge houses guests along with three 1,800-square-foot cabins and 10 2,500-square-foot cabins. More than 1,200 clients come through the lodge during the peak months of November, December and January. Hunts take place in the morning, with guides and dogs, and recreational activities fill up the afternoon including clay shooting, fishing and kayaking, trail riding, bird watching and more. And the exceptional cuisine is served morning, noon and night.
“We actually have a lot of repeat clients,” says Keeth. “So we are continually looking for ways to improve the experience. We are always making it better.”
And making it better is what Honey Brake is all about. It is the largest Wetland Reserve Easement in the United States: a program of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to encourage successful and cost-effective restoration of farmed or converted wetlands. It is also the largest Ducks Unlimited waterfowl project in the country. In 2004, 850,000 trees were planted and shallow water levies were built in Phase One of the project. Phase 2 saw the planting of 350,000 trees in 2020. Keeth expects 250,000 trees to be planted during the final phase in 2023. In addition, Keeth has spent the summer months building levies and creating additional habitats for wildlife. This involved 100,000 yards of embankments, 2,000 yards of excavation, 18 water control stations and 1600 acres of new shallow water acres.
“This summer has seen the most productive change on Honey Brake in years,” says Keeth, who is on the Advisory Council for the LSU College of the Coast and Environment. He also works closely with Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and the LSU School of Agriculture. His heart and soul are dedicated to the land, and he loves educating and exposing others to the beauty and abundance of central Louisiana. “It has been a true blessing to make such an impact, not only for Louisiana but for the wildlife and conservation community in general.”







