Preseason 2016...

[Rick]

Guess we'll begin the new log with word that a farm north of Welsh has had a nice mess of teal show up "over night".

But must add that we were out looking at land south of Gueydan while the kind of wicked storm cell that stirs the heck out of rice country waterfowl passed through late this afternoon, and no teal were sighted. So the thrill of laying eyes on 2016 bluewings that aren't summer residents remains in my future.

[DComeaux]

Reports For Gueydan, LouisianaSeason:
Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016
C. Fitch reported Increasing numbers & migrations
Comments: Two very large flocks of teal flying high North of gueydan

[Rick]

Wood ducks.

[Rick]

Perfect wind and rainy teal weather again this morning, which made for much more pleasant spin with the dogs in Klondike back country than has been our summer norm, but no bluewings were spotted on either that round or the one we drove later.

[Darren]

Rick a friend of a friend was apparently out and about in your area in a helicopter this AM, footage of which I've seen. I'm told they saw some teal, and the video includes some footage of what appears to be some flights bumping from sheet water but can't 100% confirm to be teal based on the distance. Take it for what it's worth

[Rick]

Could be a blue million of the little jewels lurking where I'm not. Know mottleds have been conspicuously absent in my travels, and they could be partying with new teal in fresh flooded stubbles I've not seen. Won't be all that long before we'll see if they make it here for their season in gratifying numbers.

[Ericdc]

Survey says there's about 2 million less of them.



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[Rick]

Seems to me that just about everything has more influence on our hunting fortunes than how many were up there.

[Ericdc]

Seems to me that just about everything has more influence on our hunting fortunes than how many were up there.

Yea I agree, just saying.


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[Ericdc]

Teal sighting. Some of the prettiest, fattest birds I've ever gotten into.


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[Rick]

Sure that one's not a wood teal?

[Ericdc]

Positive. Possibly a big blue wing. No woof ducks for me last year.


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[Ericdc]

Rick, how will this affect the rice harvest down there?


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[Rick]

Most of the rain's to our east, and most of the good farmers seem to have most or all of their first crop in. But it's going to knock down some rice and maybe mash it beyond harvestable height and/or perhaps preclude second crops for others who have to tear hell out of their fields getting their first crop out.

[Ericdc]

Yea I figured 4-6" would be a game changer.


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[Darren]

Seems like we often get something like this fairly close to teal season.......and usually stands to make places for teal to go they wouldn't normally, thus spreading the migrators around ughhhhh

[Darren]

on my end of the state it floods bean and sugar cane fields, and the teal flock to it in droves. They'd rather play in that freshly flooded stuff than much of our coastal marshes

[Rick]

Dogs and I were feeling house-bound and driving each other nuts, so we took a long hike through flooded stubbles and sheet water covered plowed ground in the rain just across the lake. Mosquito flight was strong, but we didn't see a single squealer or woodie, much less what I'd hoped when I stuck a new potential teal call in my pocket.

Was nice to make a round without sweating and to note that young Marsh has become about as watery as Nonc Peake and preferred staying in the chest deep driving water for most of our circuit, even though it was so comfortable on land. May not have his marking or handling where we'd like them, yet, but he's fit and not afraid of tough going.

[Ericdc]

Looking back at my phone pics from last year, my first teal sighting at my large pond in north central Louisiana was August 20th.


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[Darren]

yea the sightings this week have seemed to be awfully early, maybe there's good reason you're not seeing them yet in promising spots. Nonetheless the second and third hand reports have kicked me into prep mode.

[Rick]

Though it's sometimes been earlier, the logs show I didn't see my first until the 25th last year and 26th the year before. Been my experience that we should be seeing them in numbers by Duck Festival weekend, which is the last full one of August.

[Darren]

Looks like the big rains that have been here in BR have made their way to you, Rick. Hope y'all are ok

Really ugly around here, whole lot of water in places we've never seen it. Thankfully our home is ok on high ground but only takes a short walk to find raging water in lower areas nearby

[Ericdc]

Seeing some awful pics from Denham springs, reminding me of what we got back in March in northeast LA when 20" of rain fell quickly.


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[Rick]

So far, so good at our house. Being out of internet until now has been the worst of our personal woes, but much of the area is flooded with the worst yet to come when the river crests in a couple days. Current predictions put the crest safely below our "ridge," but they're expected to cut power, water and such tomorrow, so there'll be that to contend with if the hounds and I stay, as planned. (Am shipping Sweet Chereaux off to stay in the A/C.)

[Ericdc]

Mermentau?


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[Rick]

Yep. Backs up from the lock bottlenecks, so our worst flooding comes well after the rain.

[Rick]

Flood refugees:


Will likely be finding them in all sorts of odd places for a while.

[Ericdc]

Rick, I've heard that Garrett Cole's new lodge could be flooding.

Terrible times in south LA


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[aunt betty]

If I was there I think maybe I'd be scouting around doing some hog control. Them suckers are bound to be in some odd locations all herded up. Sounds sorta like fun til you gotta clean em all. Always room for pork in someone's freezer that aint under water.