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Water we are not in need of. Actually, it's just inches from entering the blind. We were out there late morning but did see specks and CLOUDS of teal with a mix of big duck. I jumped one of those green headed thingy's with some friends from near our blind. We had made it back to the truck to grab a few more decoys and I noticed just to our NW a black mass of birds rise and swarm over the fields. Blake and Toby were sure they were black birds until they got closer. OH MY! what a beautiful sight. I'm anxious to see what happens next Saturday at LST. The swarms we saw today reminded me of the weekend before teal season 2011- 2012.

The inner canal needs to be pumped out to get our water level down but with all the water out there there's no where to put it without flooding the road. Hopefully it doesn't rise much more in our cuts. It was sure nice not having to bail a blind.

A lot more water then what we'd like, but we'll make it work. We will add more brush next weekend to fill in some bare spots.


A shot of our north side with decoys.


We had a little helper that didn't listen to dad and got off of the bike. Water in the boots! Where they are standing is the levee and they should not be standing in water.

Blind's lookin good! We'll likely have more water than we can stand next weekend as well in the marsh.

The east blind's south cut is backing up into the eastern most part of the farm, which will hold a lot of water without raising that south cut commencerately, so I briefly entertained the notion of dumping some of what's in the pump-off ditch there, but with the outside gate leaking, it would be a very temporary bandage on your end and more nuisance for those guys. Might blow out their levee, too...

So I'm afraid you're stuck with a situation that's likely going to get worse before it gets better. Might not be able to see your drive entrance by next weekend and want to bring stools to hunt the levee if it's backed into the blind.

I sure hope that's not the case but we'll do what we have to. Been there, done that.

HEY! I've got an idea!

Go drive a 4 x 8 sheet of 1/2" plywood down in front of the east side main drain pipe that's at the end of the road and pump my water out.

That pipe's been closed. What we need is a working outside gate to keep what goes out from coming back in until outside water drops. If it ever drops. Right now we'd be pumping onto the road.

Pray for strong north winds.

Weather is looking good for the weekend. Man, I'm praying to not have water in that blind on Saturday morning. Whats for breakfast Saturday morning? Y'all have a full house?

Most of your entrance was still visible yesterday, but I didn't look farther.

I'm sure the camp will be loaded and brunch will be good. Doug burnt his last bridge with Jenny Rose, and her replacement, Jeffery, isn't nearly as much fun to have around but is a fine cook.

Rick wrote:Most of your entrance was still visible yesterday, but I didn't look farther.

I'm sure the camp will be loaded and brunch will be good. Doug burnt his last bridge with Jenny Rose, and her replacement, Jeffery, isn't nearly as much fun to have around but is a fine cook.

Bummer, I enjoyed learning some cooking tips from her, maybe he won't be as willing to share. Wish my boat ride was more like DComeaux's ATV ride Saturday morning or at least just what Rick's got to his blind but unfortunately it's going to be quite the trek through the marsh to where we're headed. Hope it's just light rain and not storms

And here we were wishing for an "adventure" like yours.

I heard my first bunch of robins this morning. I used to get excited at hearing or seeing these first of the season, as for me , this was an indicator of migration picking up steam. Doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I still snapped my head back with eyes skyward to find em, but it was short lived. Memories of the last couple of seasons peed on the fire.

Shoot, seeing robins has been a treat in recent years. Had our first ambitious little sharpshin camped out over the pigeon loft this morning, so something still migrates.

Well! I bailed our blind every morning last year from teal season to the end of the regular season and it looks like it's going to start off that way again this year. It frickin never ends.


That sack of decoys and that green supposed to be scoup, that's going in the trash can, is supposed to be at the bottom of the blind.

Quit your bitchin', we left you a jager pump on top of that corner of the blind. And next time cut the other end out of your scoop.

Kids these days...

....and that's not my scoop, It was brought over with the blind. It was for the shoot 10 boxes a morning crew from last year.

Was feeling sorry for myself after having started my morning cleaning out a vial dog box. Then I thought of you guys beginning it wrestling that jager pump while mosquitoes sucked you dry. All better now, thanks.

HA! I just noticed this post.

With the second split opener just 5 days away I spent the afternoon cutting grass in my yard and mulching a few leaves, just a clean up while it's dry. The wind was reported 15-25 but It seemed some gusts were a bit more than that. The front line came through not very long after I had finished, bringing with it sideways rain and a nice temperature drop. We lost power for a bit, but it was probably just a possum that slipped from a branch, cause the wind really didn't increase with the frontal passage, It actually switched direction and slowed a good bit.

I can't remember a time that I've had to cut my grass the week before Christmas. What a weird year!

no doubt..........I think it was two years ago we had snow this past weekend someone said......crazy

I thought about cutting the grass to mulch the leaves before the rain came yesterday, but took the dogs for a spin and watched GB beat Dallas, instead. Not a rabid football fan, but enjoy watching most anyone beat Dallas. Then the dogs and I stood in the rain and enjoyed the temperature drop. Not going to last but sweet, anyway.

I've lived here on this property for 25 years or so and spent much of my childhood walking this place with my grandfathers 410. Every year without fail I could sit outback and watch constant, large flights of wood ducks following the bayous at first light and at dusk, with many passing overhead... whistling wings!
I get home at this time of year just at the right time for the evening flight, so I let Ellie out, walk out in the middle of the back yard and stare at the sky. This year I haven't seen but a dozen or more since the beginning of November and nothing on my drive out in the mornings. Tonight it was eerily quite and empty with only one woodcock seen making his way to an open pasture. On these clear, cool, still evenings I was always front row to good show. Not tonight, or a few others just like it, recently.
I'd blame it on the rains we've had but we've had similar conditions in the past and still had the flights. We do have a few locals year round, but numbers would increase substantially throughout the season. Maybe they haven't made it down yet? Dunno?....I'll keep looking.

I'm going to make this is my last gloom and doom post for the season. We'll be out there taking what's given and enjoying the sunrise in the blind. It's just so disheartening at times.

I cleaned my calls this evening and I don't know how my go to was still working. I did notice some off tones last time out and no wonder, I could have brushed a blind and made a skoal dip with what came out of it. WOW! It resembled the inside of Ricks gun at the end of a season.... JK

The Riceland was spit shined and shes sounding sweet. I hope I get to play a few tunes for the specks this weekend. I've got to pull my FB specks out of storage and check em out...... I'm ready to go!

Was on my way out there yesterday afternoon when the farmer across called to say he was about to start a pump he was supposed to start first thing Monday morning, so I turned around. But the last time I was out there, I saw a couple dozen specks get up out of your north cut, nearer the flood canal's end than the blind it appeared. Might not be sitting with your decoys, but they were definitely in the neighborhood. No telling how many were using it, though.

Going to be out there again sometime this afternoon (still chasing leaks on the "nice" farm across), if rains don't prevent it.

Cleaned a mess of crap out of my own calls this week, so you're not alone there. Waiting until the last minute Friday to change corks.

Here's what I think "the good news":


The heat inspired that mess to pop at the pump, where prior excavation had plainly just skimmed off the tip of the mudberg. Didn't try cranking the pump but think it a safe bet that's what had the intake blocked and that it will now draw as it should - if we're careful not to let it plug again or can get the flotant removed. Meaning that if coming rains raise your water too high, there's a good chance we can lower it now.

"The bad news" is that I didn't hear your specks while there, maybe just drown out by the ibis racket? Still seem plenty scattered around the area, as well as greenwings, spoons and even mallards.

And the personal "good news/bad news" was that seeing that popped plug made me worry that warm water had also popped the mudhole's "bottom" and I'd have to pull decoys and regrind at this late date. Enough so that I took the boat ride in the rain and got the good news that it hadn't, yet. The bad news being how few ducks had joined our marsh mottleds. Moved just two or three little bunches of jacks and, maybe, a dozen mallards. Can only hope activity elsewhere boosts us through the weekend and cross our fingers from there...

Yeah, Looks like the pump threw up.

I'm going through the motions of getting ready for the mornings hunt, but..... DAMN!...... it just don't feel right. I decided not to go out there this afternoon and will just let things play out in the morning.

Don't forget your speck call. There are still some around that will likely be displaced