Preseason 2016...

[DComeaux]

That's awesome! Can't wait to get to the blind Saturday, I just hope it's still in place.

[Darren]

Wow very cool!

[Rick]

Well, went to the marsh to fix up the blind for next weekend, and even the poule d'eau have apparently decided it's too dang hot in SWLA. Lots of jacks and some mallards, but not what we had last week.

Nearly finished the blind set up, leaving nothing but the spinner and new boat hide mat for a last look trip later in the week. And did have the presence of mind to shoot a few photos this time:






Looks like a pretty big pond in those, but that last shot is from the "bank" out front, which is a measured 30 yards.

[DComeaux]

Looks good Rick. I wish I had some time to get a look at mine a day or two in advance rather than in the early dark morning on Saturday.

[Darren]

Sure doesn't look like something that would shoot at you

[Rick]

Looks good Rick. I wish I had some time to get a look at mine a day or two in advance rather than in the early dark morning on Saturday.

Isn't there someone down there who can at least check on whether the blind's popped?

[Rick]

Sure doesn't look like something that would shoot at you

First crew through will probably level our cover. Most seem to think the birds will come swimming by.

[Ericdc]

We cut too much brush for the upcoming weekend but rain and hunters will beat it down then I'll cut more.


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[DComeaux]

Looks good Rick. I wish I had some time to get a look at mine a day or two in advance rather than in the early dark morning on Saturday.

Isn't there someone down there who can at least check on whether the blind's popped?

Yes, I may have a guy that could run by the blind, but It's more about me being there to fix it, if it needs it.

This J-O-B stuff gets in the way. I need to find a way to rid this from my life.

[DComeaux]

Looks good Rick. I wish I had some time to get a look at mine a day or two in advance rather than in the early dark morning on Saturday.

Isn't there someone down there who can at least check on whether the blind's popped?

Yes, I may have a guy that could run by the blind, but It's more about me being there to fix it, if it needs it.

This J-O-B stuff gets in the way. I need to find a way to rid this from my life.

Update: Called a guy and found out he went down there last Thursday to check water level. The water was 6" to 8" higher than "normal",and over the road in spots. He removed some top boards from the drain, so we should be down by Saturday. Said the birds were tick, tick, tick....He may or may not go by my blind, but I did hint at it....I'm hoping that the rain water collected by the pit was enough to hold it down. I don't think I'll ever leave the blind empty for long periods again. The time it takes to bail it is far less work then getting it back down.

[Rick]

Made my last trip, I trust, to the marsh before Saturday's opener this afternoon and saw good numbers of big ducks along with the ringnecks and even several bunches of greenwings on the east end. Put the new grass "door" on the boat hide and the spinner on its pole, then jumped in the blind just long enough to put a mallard pair "right there" and hauled tail. Chill wind felt grand after our last couple hot days.

Also saw what looked for all the world like an osprey, which I've never before seen in this area, carrying a good sized fish.

Going to be a looong two days until we open.

[Ericdc]

I can't wait to see what's in the air this weekend. Taking off Monday and Tuesday to hunt also.

Will be a midday hunt for us Monday because it'll be about 20-22 that morning and we'll have ice.



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[Ericdc]

Seems like if Louisiana doesn't get birds this year, it'll never happen. Strong cold fronts and dry conditions in Arkansas and Missouri are what I'd imagine are ideal for y'all.


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We are holding quite a few already.


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[Rick]

Seems like if Louisiana doesn't get birds this year, it'll never happen.

We're spoiled enough to cry a lot, but we still always get far more than than most. There are just way too many of us trying to divvy them up.

What has me most excited is that between high water and cold temps that let the flotant settle (bacteria went dormant and quit farting CO2 to hold it up) there's more broken marsh close to my blind than normal this early. Meaning more of what's around should come around, and we may get to do some catching up with the blinds to our east that held sway with little ducks while we were straining for strays and too few trafficking big ducks first split. Looking forward to seeing, anyway...

[DComeaux]

Go check on my blind,please...I'll text you the gate combo.

[Darren]

Seems like if Louisiana doesn't get birds this year, it'll never happen. Strong cold fronts and dry conditions in Arkansas and Missouri are what I'd imagine are ideal for y'all.
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Surely seems like ideal patterns so far, especially with the recent snow storms across upper Midwest and blasts even getting down to here. Keep 'em coming!

[Rick]

Got suckered into closing the outside gate on Dave and Jarren's old farm (the frame of which must be rusting out, because it, the plank and I were swaying like a swinging foot bridge in the wind) and saw geese all over Jarren's new farm when a plane came by while I was trying not to fall in. So I detoured down the House drive and took some shots of Jarren's pond:


Wasn't just geese as a mess of big ducks were more nervous and rolled to them when I stopped at the barn:


Also noticed that the blind's looking a whole lot better than the Normandy Beach bunker the last guys erected there:

[Rick]

You don't recognize your own blind???

They're on your pond and presumably all the way to Dolza where I took this from the road east of your east cut's east levee:


Also some going in by Mike and Randal's in the middle. And thick in the cut south of where you park.

[Rick]

Figured the water would be deeper than that, is what threw me off.

Was a lot of open water the other day, and I didn't get close enough to see if it's gone or the stubble showing on the west end just wasn't open then. Those are big ducks that got out of that stubble in the second pic, so there must still be some water.

But, again, I'd want to check on that north levee to be sure it's west end is not washing out again, even if you have good water now.

[Rick]

Just blew the pic up and see the geese are standing in what appears shallow water. Hopefully, I misread its depth from afar the other day.

[Rick]

Snow decoys are the debil.














Unless you have a thousand or so of them.

[Ericdc]

Snow decoys are the debil.














Unless you have a thousand or so of them.

Yea I remember us debating this. I didn't get any. Just specks.


Rick prolly fooling us all haha


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[Rick]

Get after it. Far as I'm concerned every mother's little hunter and his three cousins should field two or three dozen snow decoys - as long as I don't have to hunt over them.