Post Season

Re: Post Season

Postby Ericdc » Wed Feb 28, 2018 3:18 pm

That was a good episode


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Re: Post Season

Postby aunt betty » Wed Feb 28, 2018 3:21 pm

Was kidding around but you know it's really not a bad idea.
Once I get a forklift and an 18-wheeler I'll holler.
Might be a while.
I've heard that it's incredibly stupid to fuck around with a crazy man's head.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Wed Feb 28, 2018 4:17 pm



That's who you're going to be making some speck hunts with? Don't know the owner, but the SWLA club guide in that piece, Garret Cole, is a great guy and strong speck hunter.
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Wed Feb 28, 2018 5:01 pm

Rick wrote:


That's who you're going to be making some speck hunts with? Don't know the owner, but the SWLA club guide in that piece, Garret Cole, is a great guy and strong speck hunter.



Nah, I know where they're located, and remember seeing Garret in one of your pictures on a buddy hunt chasing a speck. He was in a horizontal leap. I may be hunting out that way, just a little SW of their location, with others.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Thu Mar 01, 2018 5:40 am

DComeaux wrote: I may be hunting out that way, just a little SW of their location, with others.


Ah, a childless rich uncle croaked and you're going to be a member in Tim Lytle's new camp on 14. Ought to be the second best (to Lacassine Land Co.) speck hunting in SWLA.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Thu Mar 01, 2018 5:41 am

BGcorey wrote:Usually bigger and better means safer too... atleast that’s what I’m telling the wife


So she made spend you spend the new boat money on more life insurance...
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Re: Post Season

Postby aunt betty » Thu Mar 01, 2018 4:23 pm

johnc wrote:
Rick wrote:
DComeaux wrote: I may be hunting out that way, just a little SW of their location, with others.
I bought make up brushes today so I could possibly have lost it

Let me guess you're re-painting decoys. They'll be beautiful.
I've heard that it's incredibly stupid to fuck around with a crazy man's head.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Thu Mar 01, 2018 6:02 pm

johnc wrote:Is that space age looking edifice to the east of the 99/14 junction what you are referring too? Lyons farm on North side


Yup. I've not been by it in months, but I've sometimes wondered if he didn't barter with the architect using products from he and his brother's place, Bayou Rum.

Think he got his real money from selling a waste disposal outfit after befriending the right family-less old fellow and first bought most of Blackwater Marsh (which he's since sold to Grant Henning's dad, Tom, to give the boy a marsh), then bought the south of 14 end of the Lyons farm and Rivianna's(SP?) 500+ on its west, and more recently the remaining 300 and something acres of Coto Platte rice bordering the refuge just before the Lacasine Bayou bridge. When ya got it...

If it wasn't so funny to tell on myself, I'd be embarrassed to admit I thought the shop was going to be the camp when they poured its foundation.
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Mon Mar 05, 2018 9:50 am

I spent this beautiful weekend at the camp with the wife and Blake. We tinkered with a few Items to put the camp in spring and summer mode, shaking off all of the winter prep stuff. We did find some things that didn't take the last freeze very well and in need of replacement.

Yesterday started off as another beautiful day, with a cool, comfortable SE breeze. Midway through breakfast prep we noticed that the power was out. It seems someone to our west had set the marsh on fire and it took out at least one utility pole. As of 8 pm yesterday evening it wasn't up, and was told it'll be sometime today. Marsh buggy's/equipment were needed for the fix. We were fishing very near this fire on Saturday afternoon, and we showed up at what appeared to be it's start. Somebody's in for a little trouble.

Blake took a ride through the west end of the reserve and saw a good bit of fully plumed GW and spoons. We did see a scattering of fowl in the ponds near the road, and I would have liked to run our marsh just to have a peak of whats still here. The humans were out in force.

Blake and I have plans to return this weekend to do a little fishing, and probably more will be scouting of new areas. A push pole will be in order, and hopefully I wont need to call out the air boats for a tug.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Darren » Mon Mar 05, 2018 2:55 pm

Got a video of a bunch of grays in the Delacroix area over weekend, not unusual. Was mid march when I saw some absolutely massive flights of grays in northshore lake pontchartrain marshes a a good few years back while fishing, and have seen a lot of divers around Lake Borgne into late April or first week of May.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Tue Mar 06, 2018 5:28 am

Not so much as a bluewing or spoon seen on yesterday's dog pass in Klondike. Kind of melancholy.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Deltaman » Tue Mar 06, 2018 8:00 am

I bass fished last Wednesday afternoon in our delta, and the only birds I noticed was a small wad of Grays sitting out in the middle of Chocolatta (a large bay), and a tight wad of Ruddy ducks, skimming the water to and fro.
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you know for sure, that just ain't so"
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:49 pm

Thornwell rice boogy boarding.



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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Wed Mar 07, 2018 5:55 am

Bummer. They cut it before he made a turn, caught the edge of the board in a steel wheel rut and flipped.

(Actually were some Thornwell farmers talking about riding tractor tubes behind whatever they could scrounge as kids over coffee the other morning...albeit in the river.)
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Tue Mar 20, 2018 10:05 am

Darren wrote:Thanks for jumping in here, Larry. Hope (and I'm certain you will) you find it a much more civilized panel of discussion that heads in the right direction, versus other places I've seen the discussion going on lately. DComeaux and I got to kick it around a bit on the closing day of the east zone enjoying a morning in the blind that was slower than we'd hoped yet we still saw a lot of ducks........and that was quite a bit less than we had been seeing for most of the season there. As you saw in the logs on here, many of us in Louisiana, top to bottom, had our share of great hunts this season so we're not here ranting with pitchforks. But this is also a gathering of (civilized, I think :lol: ) and passionate waterfowl hunters that have taken notice of changes over the last 10-15 years.
My take on this, which has been touched on by others, is yes you have climatological changes in play for sure. But even with that removed from the equation, we would still be seeing discernible impacts from enhanced habitats north of us in Ark and MO. Duck hunting is simply big business now for many more people. Overall hunter numbers may be down, but money invested per hunter has to be way up, and is becoming the have's and the have-not's. Look at Habitat Flats in MO, literally farming for ducks, with tremendous success. They are not alone in that region. People are investing in the land and giving the birds more options, thus spreading them wider and holding them longer.On a local level, Little Pecan Island club is a glaring local example of this very practice. Big bucks are paying off for the have's, and they held a significant chunk of SW La marsh birds for much of this season, good for them. A friend of mine who grew up hunting the region made a hunt there this season, described it as "the most birds hes ever seen anywhere, the best hunting I've ever experienced, just indescribable". I'd do the same had I the means to do so. Lottery hits this weekend? Better believe I'm buying up all I can to build my own farm/duck haven. Short of that, I'll keep doing what I'm doing now that's been just fine. But not without an awareness of what's become undeniable.

I've seen the data, as you've shared to all who would listen (or not), and am certainly not one to disregard it. The numbers just don't lie, even when what is perceived on a given day at a given blind might attempt to temporarily discredit it. So that's what we have now, some have big hunts and think all is well, others have slow hunts and think sky has already fallen. Answer is somewhere in between, I suppose.

Keep the civil discussion rolling, gents


I've drifted away from full thought of ducks for a bit, doing some fishing and yard clean up, but I sat and read through this thread this morning, rekindling the duck fire, and I'd like to touch on Darren's comments.

I have nothing against a man legally prepping his place for waterfowl, and would do it in a heart beat if I had the means, but I feel that those with influence (read money) can flirt dangerously close to, if not skirt around the regs in some cases. (Influential interpretation) While the "have not's" already struggle for their little share of waterfowl, it's become increasingly harder for those (me/us) to watch, what to me is legal baiting on a large scale for just a few 'haves" up and down the flyway. For me, the issue is not that they can do it, but that they're doing it and it may be affecting (strong opinion) the birds once natural migration.

This,in my mind is the issue. Should the regs be changed to see if a more "normal" migration and distribution of fowl would occur? What if those flooding standing crops, that were planted with no intent of harvest, and for the sole purpose of harvesting ducks, were asked to stop this practice for a couple of years? Harvest and flood only. Would it make a difference in the migration? I'd say, it probably would. This must include State manged areas as well. Does Louisiana (State) plant for ducks? I know Missouri does. Let these wet areas do their natural thing.

https://www.fws.gov/le/waterfowl-hunting-and-baiting.html

What Is Baiting?

You cannot hunt waterfowl by the aid of baiting or on or over any baited area where you know or reasonably should know that the area is or has been baited.

Baiting is the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could lure or attract waterfowl to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them.

A baited area is any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, if that salt, grain, or feed could serve as a lure or attraction for waterfowl.


Waterfowl Hunting on Agricultural Lands

Agricultural lands offer prime waterfowl hunting opportunities. You can hunt waterfowl in fields of unharvested standing crops. You can also hunt over standing crops that have been flooded. You can flood fields after crops are normally harvested and use these areas for waterfowl hunting. Hunting waterfowl over a crop that has not been harvested but that has been manipulated (rolled/disced) is considered baiting under current regulations.

The presence of seed or grain in an agricultural area rules out waterfowl hunting unless the seed or grain is scattered solely as the result of a normal agricultural planting, normal agricultural harvesting, normal agricultural post-harvest manipulation, or normal soil stabilization practice.

The Service’s regulations on baiting specifically recognize the role of USDA’s State Cooperative Extension Specialists (CES) in recommending to farmers the normal planting, harvesting, post-harvest manipulation, and soil stabilization practices for each crop grown in their state. Hunting over crop fields managed in accordance with these CES recommendations is generally not considered baiting.

The CES provides to farmers a wide range of recommendations on a case-by-case basis, but not all of their recommendations may be considered “normal” planting, harvest, post-harvest manipulation or soil stabilization practice for the purposes of determining whether or not hunting over crop fields could be considered baiting. Please contact USFWS Law Enforcement for further clarification.


What's the difference between this and flooded, standing corn or second crop rice. FEEDING
Problem Areas

Feeding Waterfowl and Other Wildlife
Many people feed waterfowl for the pleasure of bird watching. It is illegal to hunt waterfowl in an area where such feeding has occurred that could lure or attract migratory game birds to, on, or over any area where hunters are attempting to take them. The 10-day rule applies to such areas, and any salt, grain, or feed must be gone 10 days before hunting. The use of sand and shell grit is not prohibited.
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Re: Post Season

Postby aunt betty » Wed Mar 21, 2018 11:28 am

DC I'm sorry but you need to take a trip to Illinoize and see what exactly you're up against.
I'd point you to the place called Carlisle Lake walk-ins and let you beat a path to the "Otter Pond".
You could be my champion. I've always wanted to hunt that hole but you have to be Louisiana Large to actually get it.
(not kidding)

You'd see standing flooded corn for miles. It's not for "the haves" but is for the "have nots". It's public. You will see greenheads. :)
Never had the luxury of hunting any of the exclusive Illinois River duck clubs but am betting that if I did I'd see the baiting you refer to up close.

I saw it in Arkansas on private FFS. Don't even ask why a duck club would have four bags of feed corn in the closet. It will get awkward.

Missouri has some large public areas like Carlisle too. They're hard-core famous and you have to get on a list to maybe get drawn maybe.

What we're discussing is way way way too big for us to reverse. It's economics, agriculture, and land-use which is way out of our league. Mother nature will take care of it all eventually. Things change and then you adapt. Then they change some more and you adapt some more. Get used to it. Sorry.

Used to be where everything got plowed under up here and there was no food, nuclear power plant cooling lakes, and no refuges because the lakes weren't built yet. When I was a kid all these federal project lakes did not exist. The geese and ducks HAD to fly south because there was nothing here. Our seasons were 28 days and that is why. No ducks here so why have a 60-day season?

I can not take responsibility for the changes in waterfowl migrations but can point to the causes. No-till ag. Nuclear power plant cooling lakes. Refuges with free food.
I've heard that it's incredibly stupid to fuck around with a crazy man's head.
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Sat Mar 24, 2018 2:59 pm

We decided to fix the godevil, replacing everything dealing with the shaft. We had a shop do the work and they couldn't get the prop off of the piece of shaft that was still in it. New shaft, new seals, new prop. The only thing now that isn't new is the mainframe. I still need to permanently mount the fuel pump, add an inline fuse, and wire it into the two position key switch on the motor.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:40 pm

Much better now than November...
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Tue Apr 03, 2018 9:14 pm

Well lookie here!
Click on the link to read more.
http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/eccc/CW69-16-48-2017-eng.pdf

Issue 1: Bait Authorizations
Bait authorizations are issued primarily for the benefit of migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, and people. To date, these authorizations have been issued to only a few landowners across Canada (fewer than 50 annually) mostly occurring on private lands. This raises the issue of social fairness and equitable access to the resource, as a broader group of people have recently expressed an interest in receiving a bait authorization. Issuing a larger number of bait authorizations than it is currently the case, however, has the potential to result in conservation concerns as harvest increases due to the presence of bait (see above). It is proposed to discontinue the issuance of bait authorizations as the recommended option going forward (please see Table 1). Consequently, subsection 14(3) of the Regulations would be amended to reflect this policy change.


Issue 2: Bait and Agricultural Operations
The Regulations currently allow the intentional flooding (i.e., deliberate modification) of a standing agricultural crop for the purpose of attracting and hunting migratory birds within it (i.e., not 400 metres from it). While this practice is uncommon, it does occur. It results in inconsistency in the prohibitions within the bait restrictions set out in subsection 14(1) of the Regulations. For example, a hunter is not allowed to hunt within 400 metres of where bait has been deposited in water, but is allowed to hunt where bait is present in an intentionally flooded standing cornfield. As mentioned previously, the presence of food in a specific area attracts and concentrates a large number of birds. If this specific area is located on private land, the opportunity to harvest migratory birds would be limited to a select group of hunters, thereby creating a situation of unequal access to migratory birds among hunters.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Darren » Wed Apr 04, 2018 6:55 am

What constitutes a standing agricultural crop? Corn? Millet? Rice? Would rice's inherent need to grow in the floods exempt it from this whereas corn is naturally a dry field crop?
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:23 am

Darren wrote:What constitutes a standing agricultural crop? Corn? Millet? Rice? Would rice's inherent need to grow in the floods exempt it from this whereas corn is naturally a dry field crop?



The rice is harvested, so you're flooding stubble. If a second crop rice is in the field it would be during teal season, and the farmers wouldn't let you create a pond anyway. From my understanding, second crop rice is only possible down here due to the growing season. (Climate)

The current law states that if a crop, lets use rice in this case, has been affected by flooding or some other natural disaster, the extension service would need to deem it a loss for insurance purposes and it would be destroyed (plowed under). You would not be able to hunt this field. It has not been harvested under normal farming practices. As stated,this is the law on the books now.

Flooding corn, millet, or any other agricultural crop for the sole purpose of attracting ducks is not a normal agricultural practice. I honestly don't see any difference between this and spreading corn in your pond.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Darren » Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:30 am

Sure appears as a slippery slope for AR and LA hunters and their rice to go chasing this down
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:38 am

DComeaux wrote:
Darren wrote:What constitutes a standing agricultural crop? Corn? Millet? Rice? Would rice's inherent need to grow in the floods exempt it from this whereas corn is naturally a dry field crop?



...If a second crop rice is in the field it would be during teal season, and the farmers wouldn't let you create a pond anyway.


Making teal ponds in standing second crop is SOP. Just have to pay for lost rice - usually at a well inflated yield estimate.
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Re: Post Season

Postby Rick » Wed Apr 04, 2018 7:44 am

Darren wrote:Sure appears as a slippery slope for AR and LA hunters and their rice to go chasing this down


Absolutely. If second crop is too weak or rutted to profitably cut or left in the field for any reason, the only good and legal way I know to get it opened up for good hunting is flooding (which I believe helps the birds find ruts and other easy spots to land in) and praying geese will take it and do the opening - which is much, much more unlikely if it's left dry. At least in my experience...
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:39 am

I don't think this is a one size fits all kind of thing.
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Re: Post Season

Postby aunt betty » Wed Apr 04, 2018 8:48 am

You guys really need to take a flight to Chicago and convince the IDNR that they have to give up them federal leases with the flooded corn, beans, milo, etc.

They just re-signed one for Carlisle Lake...good luck.
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Re: Post Season

Postby DComeaux » Sun Apr 08, 2018 8:40 pm

I was at the camp over the weekend, and If it wasn't for the green foliage I would of thought it was duck season. Low overcast yesterday afternoon with a big, cold north wind and sideways light mist. It was darn chilly out there. Ducky, for sure.

After a little work, we lit the wood burner and sizzled a few weiners.
20180407_211058.jpg


...and caught a little red.
20180407_183522.jpg
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