September teal season

by **Ericdc** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 7:47 am

Opening weekend forecast could be worse, but it could be a lot better.

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.

by **aunt betty** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 8:16 am

The early teal and goose season has been a bust here. There are a few birds but they're not moving around much when it's so hot. Saturday cold front going thru here. Maybe Sunday I'll find some new ducks and geese at the lake. Not holding my breath.
East Central Illinois is not the greatest place to be a waterfowl freak. Good luck and hope you have a better report.

by **Ericdc** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 8:17 am

Yea I would rather clouds and rain than hot and balmy like the 2013 opening weekend. That was miserable.

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by **DComeaux** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 9:17 am

I was really hoping for a cool north breeze for tomorrows opener. Looks like we may have this for next Sunday??

by **Ericdc** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 9:32 am

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by **aunt betty** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 10:11 am

DComeaux wrote:I was really hoping for a cool north breeze for tomorrows opener. Looks like we may have this for next Sunday??

Google my forecast for the weekend.

Use DeWitt ILLINOIS, not Arkansas. lol

DeWitt Illinois good. DeWitt Arkansas bad, real bad. No go zone. :lol:

by **Ericdc** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 3:21 pm

Survey says

The estimate of 97,500 blue-winged teal is far below the 247,500 estimated last September from an incomplete survey, and is the second lowest estimate on record for this September survey. Only the 50,000 estimated in September of 2013 was lower. This estimate is 33% below the most recent 5-year average of 145,000 and 59% below the long-term average of 236,000 bluewings for this survey. The estimate in SE Louisiana was the lowest on record by far. Small numbers of teal were observed in only 2 locations on all SE survey transects. Distribution was similarly poor in SW Louisiana, with nearly all bluewings counted in agricultural habitats and only 2 notable concentrations, both in fields north of White Lake near Gueydan . The 2,000 bluewings counted on Catahoula Lake was only slightly less than what was seen the last 3 years, but far below the 18,000 counted in 2012 and 49,000 in 2010. The estimate for mottled ducks is also the lowest on record for this survey and 57% below the most recent 5-year average of 28,000.

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by **aunt betty** » Fri Sep 09, 2016 5:16 pm

Oh I can relate to that.
I doubt that there are less ducks but they are spread all over creation. The official estimators and counters are probably going to where there tends to be concentrations of ducks and they aren't there.

Last year at WMA X was like a duck desert due to the fact that the Mississippi was 12 miles wide.Twas pitiful. The ducks just found places they weren't getting shot at and went there. Drove the miles to scout em out an see. They were there...just not where I could hunt them. (dangit) Usually holds a couple million greenheads while I'm there.

by **Ericdc** » Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:45 am

Date: sept 10 opening day teal

Time: left at 9

Location: blind 2 in the marsh

Cloud Cover: mostly clear with clouds building to west

Wind Direction and Velocity: calm to light easterly

Temperature: uncomfortable (80's)

Barometer:

Moon phase:

Special Notes: should have shot

Waterfowl Activity: very high and non responsive

Waterfowl Responsiveness: disappointingly snobbish

Hunters: Corey Eric Ryan Josh Andrew

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s):

Special Equipment:

Kudos:

curses: lack of Guinea wasp maintenance
I got stung on hand and Ryan on head...could have been way worse

Birds By Species: 2 blue winged teal, lost 1.
Bagged teal was banded
Other blind did better, they were on the X today.

Photo Ops:

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by **aunt betty** » Sat Sep 10, 2016 9:47 am

Was thinking about it for tomorrow. Tornadoes and T-storms rolled thru last night. (should be news on Monday)
That kind of weather tends to send the waterfowl skeedaddling for parts unknown so I'm canceling tomorrow.
Maybe Monday I'll give it a shot.

by **Ericdc** » Sat Sep 10, 2016 12:14 pm

Brought home the meat...just not teal

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by **Ericdc** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 11:55 am

Date: sept 11

Time:

Location: blind 3 in the marsh

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: light to 5 mph NNE, enough to give us some hope...

Temperature: started off bearable then hot again

Barometer:

Moon phase:

Special Notes: hunted the blind that fared best yesterday

Waterfowl Activity: about like yesterday mostly very high and the lower ones wouldn't bend

Waterfowl Responsiveness: not good

Hunters: Eric Ryan Corey Josh

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s):

Special Equipment:

Kudos: shot what came, and they came pretty

curses: not enough came

Birds By Species: 4 blue winged teal

Photo Ops:

Dreaded sunrise photo

Screen grab of gadget man Ryan's video which came out pretty good on our little group of 4.

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by **DComeaux** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 2:32 pm

Ericdc wrote:
Dreaded sunrise photo

That's exactly how we felt at that very moment. The bird activity was pretty good before we saw the top of that thing and we we're hoping to have our take before it's rays reached us. It didn't happen. The two I was with were melting..... It was hot.

by **Ericdc** » Sun Sep 11, 2016 2:36 pm

It was dead before sunrise where we were. Heard a lot of banging towards the east and south. Very few teal actually working the marsh, most high and climbing.

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by **Ericdc** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 7:51 pm

Cooked our 4 from yesterday.

Nice to have fresh birds, never frozen.

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by **DComeaux** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:17 pm

Ericdc wrote:
Nice to have fresh birds, never frozen.

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Fresh is best. Looks good.

by **Ericdc** » Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:18 pm

DComeaux wrote:
Ericdc wrote:
Nice to have fresh birds, never frozen.

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Fresh is best. Looks good.

Not bad for a north Louisiana transplant from Deridder I hope.

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by **Ericdc** » Thu Sep 15, 2016 8:15 pm

Decided to stay home this weekend, I like to think of myself as a serious waterfowler, but this weather pattern has me less than enthused about teal hunting Saturday. Hoping weather improves for the last weekend when I hope to be back in the marsh.

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by **Ericdc** » Sat Sep 17, 2016 12:38 pm

Summer is getting its last few punches in since it's technically still summer on the calendar. If I can take anything positive away from this forecast it would be that it's not still raining every day, but I sure am ready to see some autumn weather.

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by **Ericdc** » Sat Sep 24, 2016 10:17 am

Date: sept 24

Time: hunted till 9:05 then picked up decoys

Location: blind 4

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: calm to light ESE

Temperature: ok to unpleasant

Barometer:

Moon phase:

Special Notes: worst teal season in many years

Waterfowl Activity: decoyed more wood ducks (6) than teal.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: not great

Hunters: Eric Corey gadget man and big John

Guns: browning golds and silver

Malfunctions: boat motor

Dog(s):

Special Equipment: 2 baby mojos 1 dove

Kudos: good company

curses: push poling and the big bunch we were waiting on at 9 am came from behind us and made good shots impossible so we watched as they flew away. Wanted them right or not at all.

Birds By Species: 2 blue winged teal

Photo Ops:

Gadget man

Woodies

Corey and the cranky motor

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