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Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Thu Nov 26, 2015 3:11 pm
by Rick
Date: 11/26
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: clear
Wind Direction and Velocity: moderate to strong east
Temperature: warm
Barometer:
Moon phase: nearly full
Special Notes:
Waterfowl Activity: Didn't think about shooting a teal and even the spoons stayed above an apparent shear with what few big ducks we saw.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: The big ducks responded better than we hid.
Hunters: 2, father and grown son Kevins
Guns:
Malfunctions: mmm switch wire must have been badly damaged when its case was broken the other day - had to resolder.
Dog(s): easy morning with every retrieve being chauffeured
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: a poor flight and crowd control problems are a bad combination.
Kudos: guys shot well when something did make it in.
Birds By Species: 2 gadwall, 1 mallard, 1 pintail and 2 wigeon
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 2:58 pm
by Rick
Date: 11/27
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: cloudy
Wind Direction and Velocity: SE strong
Temperature: warm
Barometer: 30.22 nearly flat
Moon phase: 95% waning
Special Notes:Waterfowl Activity: slow early on, but a little of each throughout the morning - could be yesterday's guys messed up by pulling the plug at 8. (But being tired of them tipping off finishing birds, I didn't argue.) Shot our last four nearly at the 9:30 curfew.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: Everything came pretty, especially the specks - and the guys let them finish. Big ducks came from way the hey up, and we've only our shooting to blame for not having a pile of grays.
Hunters: 2, Dave and Eric who've been coming for years.
Guns: Malfunctions:Dog(s): Lost a ringneck I'm virtually certain dove under the flotant, but tracked our spoon the farthest I've ever seen one go, and finished with a paddle-wheeling and yipping chase.
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: only the lost jack
Kudos: Good guys, neat morning
Birds By Species: 9 bw teal, 1 gadwall, 2 gw teal, 3 mallards, 1 ringneck, 1 shoveller and 2 specks
Photo Ops: A rose among thorns:
Other half of the pair was stoned but still blown across my little pond to the flotant:
Big thing being both big birds ended up at the blind:
Can't help but notice that my old friend is starting to show his age:
Lagniappe:And a shot from the guide shack porch of gray that had taken a wad at another blind:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 3:45 pm
by Ericdc
Every time I come south to hunt the marsh I'm amazed at how different the ducks act than a few miles south of the state line in the delta. Up there, if gadwall lock onto your spread, 9 out of 10 times they finish. We had a pair this morning booger for no reason. Flaps up, no mojo, no calling, suckers went straight up.
Just seems like they are a little more finicky in the marsh, all species.
2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 3:47 pm
by Ericdc
Congrats on a decent hunt by the way, especially the specks. I'm sure that was rewarding with how things have been. I would be fine if the split started this Sunday. Going to be tough next week with Arkansas closed.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:05 pm
by Rick
We don't generally have the trouble working grays that folks from some other parts of the country apparently do, we just don't have very many most seasons. This year they're still running a few ahead of the mallards that are usually our dominant big duck. Gather they're a particularly early migrant, as even pintails remain sparser than normal. Shoot, we've killed 56 bluewings since big ducks opened, as opposed to a total of 18 during last year's regular season.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:15 pm
by Ericdc
Yea blue wings are top species at my brothers lease so far too
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:16 pm
by Ericdc
Rick wrote:We don't generally have the trouble working grays that folks from some other parts of the country apparently do, we just don't have very many most seasons. This year they're still running a few ahead of the mallards that are usually our dominant big duck. Gather they're a particularly early migrant, as even pintails remain sparser than normal. Shoot, we've killed 56 bluewings since big ducks opened, as opposed to a total of 18 during last year's regular season.
Mallards were our top bird last year as well, followed by gadwall. Definitely need more to show up. Thankfully most of our season this year is after mid December, and it looks like we will need the later days with the weather so far.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 4:26 pm
by Rick
Ericdc wrote:Yea blue wings are top species at my brothers lease so far too
Well, they're not "top" bird at the mudhole, but a solid second behind 96 greenwings. Gadwall are third with 31, which is twice the grays we shot during last year's first split.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 8:29 pm
by DComeaux
Nice hunt Rick! I'll be out there in the morning with my son and one of my nephews.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:21 pm
by Darren
Ericdc wrote:Every time I come south to hunt the marsh I'm amazed at how different the ducks act than a few miles south of the state line in the delta. Up there, if gadwall lock onto your spread, 9 out of 10 times they finish. We had a pair this morning booger for no reason. Flaps up, no mojo, no calling, suckers went straight up.
Just seems like they are a little more finicky in the marsh, all species.
That befuddling behavior is the grays' MO in our SE La marshes, bailing on what seemed like a full commit at last second for no apparent reason.
Traveled from Lake Charles to Cheneyville this morning passing a train load of flooded rice, not a duck seen. Also usually the fields here at my aunt's house have all day goose traffic at thanksgiving, have yet to hear the first snow. Need front(s) bad.
Rick, word I got from in-laws was first week of season was strong at Oak Island, then tailed off. Also you might see (or even host) my FIL and BIL next weekend. Hope y'all have had a good Thanksgiving
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Nov 28, 2015 5:01 am
by Rick
DComeaux wrote:Nice hunt Rick! I'll be out there in the morning with my son and one of my nephews.
Was a nice hunt: good guys who hid and shot well, and none of the other blinds banged our big old specks out before they could get picture perfect.
Checked the pump and east pipe yesterday. Your water is where it should be, and the pump appeared to be staying ahead of the east pipe's flow. Found there was still a board of some type caught in the pipe and perhaps restricting its flow some, but my hip boots weren't enough boot to let me clear it.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Nov 28, 2015 12:31 pm
by Rick
Date: 11/28
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: partly
Wind Direction and Velocity: SSE moderate to fairly strong
Temperature: warm
Barometer: 30.13 rising
Moon phase: 90% waning
Special Notes:
Waterfowl Activity: next to nothing below jet liner altitude on our end, while the east blinds had plenty
Waterfowl Responsiveness: I meat-balled a couple of sweet gray ops by being greedy.
Hunters: 2 Rays, father and grown son
Guns:
Malfunctions:
Dog(s): made an extra long mark on the spoon.
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: just no birds and bad judgement
Kudos: super nice folks from Michigan's UP who knew folks I did up there.
Birds By Species: 1 gadwall, 2 mottled, 1 ringneck, 1 shoveller and 1 wigeon
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Nov 28, 2015 12:55 pm
by DComeaux
I didn't go this morning. My crew bailed on me at 3:30 this morning so I crawled back in bed.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:35 pm
by Rick
DComeaux wrote:I didn't go this morning. My crew bailed on me at 3:30 this morning so I crawled back in bed.
Checking the pump and water will give the pup and I something to do. Please let me know if you've been out there tomorrow.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:59 pm
by DComeaux
I will be hunting alone in the morning. I would like to meet up with you after the hunt. I can run over to the camp.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sun Nov 29, 2015 12:32 pm
by Rick
Date: 11/29
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: light
Wind Direction and Velocity: SE light to moderate
Temperature: warm
Barometer: 30.05 rising
Moon phase: waning 83%
Special Notes:
Waterfowl Activity: Didn't see many big ducks but the teal were back in good numbers. (Four of our six marsh blinds were done by 7:30, with all the shooting being what made it take that long.)
Waterfowl Responsiveness: Sweet when neighborhood shooting let them get in.
Hunters: 2, Eric and Adam
Guns:
Malfunctions:
Dog(s): Easy morning other than one tipped greenwing that led a surprisingly long track to open water where it took quite a while for Peake to peg him.
Special Equipment: Spinner and MMM, the later of which remains the bomb for putting skirting teal right where we want them.
Curses: Only that more folks can't have such mornings.
Kudos: The guys hid and shot well, and we had a big time.
Birds By Species: 3 bw teal, 1 gadwall, 10 gw teal, 2 mottled and 2 shovellers
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:32 pm
by Rick
Date: 11/30
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: cloudy
Wind Direction and Velocity: SE light to moderate
Temperature: hot
Barometer: 29.99 flat
Moon phase: 75% waning
Special Notes:
Waterfowl Activity: Teal were all but absent and big ducks much the same. Even the black-belly came alone.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: Most everything but a very few locals and high ringnecks tried to work.
Hunters: 2, annual regulars, John and Brooks
Guns:
Malfunctions:
Dog(s): easy morning
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: Had some early crowd control issues to iron out.
Kudos: Nice guys and good company on a morning that could have gone much worse. That we somehow came out high blind tells how barren the marsh was.
Birds By Species: 1 black-bellied whistling duck, 3 bw teal, 4 gadwall and 3 shovellers
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Mon Nov 30, 2015 1:57 pm
by DComeaux
That would be a GREAT hunt for us right now. The comment of being the "high blind" would've more than likely meant an Ibis and black bird air show for us this morning.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Tue Dec 01, 2015 6:11 pm
by Rick
Date: 12/1
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: spitty rain all morning
Wind Direction and Velocity: north moderate
Temperature: chilly because it was wet
Barometer: 29.99 flat
Moon phase: 63% waning
Special Notes:
Waterfowl Activity: Had good numbers of little ducks until the last hour or so, then the bottom fell out. Saw very few big ducks even in the nose bleed section.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: The little rascals were good about coming but not holding still.
Hunters: 2, John and Brooks again
Guns:
Malfunctions:
Dog(s): Easy morning for the coyote, spent the last hour snoozing on his post.
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: Was a whooole lot more shooting than hitting.
Kudos: Nice folks and we could have done worse.
Birds By Species: 2 bw teal, 9 gw teal, 3 ringnecks and 1 shoveller
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe: My guys are birders, as well as hunters, and I got to show they and their buddies their first whooping cranes this afternoon.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Wed Dec 02, 2015 12:52 pm
by Rick
Date: 12/2
Time: morning
Location: Mudhole
Cloud Cover: heavy with a bit of rain early on
Wind Direction and Velocity: Northerly variable in direction and speed, but never more than moderate
Temperature: chilly in the damp
Barometer: 30.04 rising
Moon phase: waning 56%
Special Notes:
Waterfowl Activity: Started out very slow and quickly tapered off to nothing after 8. Apparently worn out by prior weather.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: Wigeon and grays came pretty as could be and even the jacks worked, but none of the very few bluewings and only one of the local mottleds tried to buy in. Had specks working pretty right at LST but didn't realize I'd flipped the spinner on until they told me.
Hunters: 2, last day for John and Brooks
Guns:
Malfunctions:
Dog(s): easy morning
Special Equipment: spinner and
Curses: Just a super slow morning.
Kudos: The guys were good about it.
Birds By Species: 3 gadwall, 2 ringnecks and 1 wigeon
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Thu Dec 03, 2015 12:59 pm
by Rick
Date: 12/3
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: clear
Wind Direction and Velocity: NE moderate
Temperature: chilly
Barometer: 30.33 rising slowly
Moon phase: Waning 46%
Special Notes:Waterfowl Activity: very few teal and not many more big ducks seen
Waterfowl Responsiveness: Thankfully good.
Hunters: 2, Bill and Dave
Guns:Malfunctions: Dog(s): lost two tipped crip teal that made it to open water
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: just that it's slow
Kudos: nice guys who shot surprisingly well after a very rough start on the redheads. (Started on the water, burned six shells as they skittered a bit and sat again. reloaded and burned six more shells to knock down two of the three that still needed finishing shots.)
Birds By Species: 7 gadwall, 3 gw teal, 1 mallard and 2 redheads
Photo Ops: Dropped a dead one when he saw this cat paddle-wheeling to open water and finally got it speared:
But remembered the switch and recovered the first, as well:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Dec 04, 2015 12:28 pm
by Rick
Date: 12/4
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: clear
Wind Direction and Velocity: NE light to moderate
Temperature: cold for us (upper 30s)
Barometer: 30.34 slooowly rising
Moon phase: waning 37%
Special Notes:Waterfowl Activity: gray ducks were almost entirely absent (saw one), as were other big ducks but a few teal passed through
Waterfowl Responsiveness: Thankfully strong.
Hunters: 2, new to us, Dave and Kendal
Guns:Malfunctions:Dog(s): couldn't catch our only jack in open water
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: Just how few birds
Kudos: Super nice guys who held up their end and made something of next to nothing dropping what came in bunches.
Birds By Species: 3 bw teal, 7 gw teal and 2 mallards
Photo Ops: What's wrong with this picture?
Ain't every day you'll see a whistler/goldeneye taken in one of our rice fields, let alone while the bluewings are still here. Up home they're the last thing to leave at ice-up, yet this one showed while we're still waiting on earlier birds.
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Fri Dec 04, 2015 12:40 pm
by Olly
One of those is not like the other.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Dec 05, 2015 12:43 pm
by Rick
Date: 12/5
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: clear
Wind Direction and Velocity: NE nil to light
Temperature: 40s
Barometer: 30.48 flat
Moon phase: waning 28%
Special Notes:Waterfowl Activity: Not much, large or small moving, but enough to make a nice hunt for now.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: For the most part, all but the local mottleds acted just as they should.
Hunters: 2, father, Mike, and son, Peter. (Darren's in-laws, have hunted Mike before and thought if his daughter is as nice as her dad, Darren's a lucky guy.)
Guns: Malfunctions:Dog(s): tracked a teal we thought dead all the way to the south big water, where it was lost
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: only that there's so little game in the area that ours was the camp's big hunt
Kudos: Given the givens, we were blessed: good company, pleasant weather and enough game to keep us interested.
Birds By Species: 2 gadwall, 6 gw teal, 4 mallards and 1 shoveller
Photo Ops: Peter and Mike:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Dec 05, 2015 1:27 pm
by Darren
They had a blast, Rick. Hoping to get them over here in our marsh after we open back up. Think Mike may have another trip booked over your way as well later in season.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Dec 05, 2015 4:40 pm
by Rick
They're coming again in January. Hope a better show of birds meet them...
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sat Dec 05, 2015 4:42 pm
by Ericdc
As bad as I've seen it in our area today. Very quiet, good many geese, but ducks were as scarce as I can remember in the last 5 years.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sun Dec 06, 2015 1:47 pm
by Ericdc
Thankfully, the newest Tapatalk Update from App Store fixed the issue I was having with not seeing pictures.
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sun Dec 06, 2015 7:45 pm
by Rick
Date: 12/6
Time: morning
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: clear
Wind Direction and Velocity: zip to light northerly
Temperature: cool
Barometer: 30.42 flat
Moon phase: waning 18%
Special Notes: last morning of first split
Waterfowl Activity: Very little of anything moving, and it looked like a scratch in the making for the first hour or so.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: All but the local mottleds tried to work.
Hunters: 3 from SC
Guns:
Malfunctions:
Dog(s): easy morning
Special Equipment: spinner and mmm
Curses: crowd control problems cost us a couple big duck chances, one a big bunch of grays.
Kudos: Nice guys and we didn't scratch
Birds By Species: 5 gw teal, 1 mallard and 1 mottled
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe:
Re: 2015-2016 Season Log
Posted:
Sun Dec 06, 2015 7:54 pm
by Rick
Date: 12/6
Time: midday through LLST
Location: mudhole
Cloud Cover: clear
Wind Direction and Velocity: light to nil northerly
Temperature: warm
Barometer:
Moon phase:
Special Notes: last afternoon of split
Waterfowl Activity: Saw exactly one flight of ducks that weren't local mottled ducks (which were also well settled in and seldom stretched).
Waterfowl Responsiveness: As if to reward us for our patience, the flight of ringnecks we saw made a power dive over the rig and my brrrring.
Hunters: 1, buddy Bobby
Guns:
Malfunctions:
Dog(s): Marsh made his mudhole debut. He didn't mark the falls which were well behind the blind but hunted up the only bird I saw fall. Failed to find another Bobby thought went in.
Special Equipment:
Curses: Hated to take a friend on such a slow hunt.
Kudos: Had a nice visit
Birds By Species:
Photo Ops:
Lagniappe: It was most definitely time for it to end.