DComeaux wrote: they're laser focused on their own little worlds
DComeaux wrote:it's about our (LA) future
DComeaux wrote: they're laser focused on their own little worlds
DComeaux wrote:it's about our (LA) future
SpinnerMan wrote:DComeaux wrote: they're laser focused on their own little worldsDComeaux wrote:it's about our (LA) future
Ducaholic wrote:Rick wrote:
You and I will be long gone when large parcels of well managed, particularly in terms of pressure, private Louisiana habitat quits holding ducks.
Like the 80's? Never say never Rick.
Marsh Bear wrote: - I guess that means it is time for another hurricane.
Darren wrote:Ducaholic wrote:Darren wrote:Rick wrote:The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!
You and I will be long gone when large parcels of well managed, particularly in terms of pressure, private Louisiana habitat quits holding ducks.
Public hunting land management is a far less effective draw, because as our head upland bird manager once said of quail, "Every time you create a public land covey, you also create two more public land hunters with four more dogs."
If it's huntable habitat, didn't notice where it might have said "refuge use only, no hunting", then Rick's on point, public land yahoos will be shoulder to shoulder in there and pressure will counteract the initial draw.
As you know that's already the case in a lot of areas. That does not mean we can't or shouldn't do more on public land to restore it and make it as attractive to waterfowl as it once was. Even if that means more hunting restrictions namely days and time allowed in the field.
Exactly zero people will support any such measures if it results in reduced opportunity (e.g. days afield), that's first and foremost. Hell we hardly got away with (and likely never will again) opening on a Friday in an effort to boost the effectiveness and hunt quality of the entire teal season last year (regardless of how it ended up turning out). People whined about losing ONE DAY of opportunity, and that didn't even apply to those that could take off. So best of luck improving habitat but then saying can't hunt it as much, drawing a distinct line in the sand.
I'd counteract that with areas where hunters are able to make a CHOICE, such as our limited access areas on state WMAs......no one's saying you can't hunt there, you're just going to have to make a choice whether you're willing to put in a little extra effort to reap the rewards. But in that case hunt opportunity, save for the handicapped or elderly, is not reduced.
While we're on this and know they're in the background from previous discussions, through a friend that apparently visits regularly, recently came across some "hero shots" of hunts from Little Pecan last season......piles and piles of those long birds with the red/brown "chocolate" heads with white trim and long pointy tail, and those others so many talk about that don't exist in Louisiana, allegedly, with the iridescent solid green heads, yellow bill, curly black feathers at the rump.
Those who can will make the referenced habitat upgrades and then leave it up to themselves to manage pressure instead of being yahoos and invading it day after day. And they're steadily being rewarded......... To contrast, marginally decent coastal habitat in Delacroix area, though "private" is degraded by the yahoos that joy ride all day in mud boats just to see the birds take flight en mass. Can we not work to combat that as another angle in preserving (and improving) what habitat we DO have? Dave? What's the FFL's stance on that?
Rick wrote:Ducaholic wrote:Rick wrote:
You and I will be long gone when large parcels of well managed, particularly in terms of pressure, private Louisiana habitat quits holding ducks.
Like the 80's? Never say never Rick.
I thought you and most everyone on these boards but me saw the 3 and 30 years as one of the hay days of LA duck hunting. Thanks largely to the elbow room provided by the quitters, but surely not without some ducks being around for those who stuck with it.
Where I was hunting at the time, it generally took rain to kill three duck limits and our camp's goose business was going through the roof with newly minted converts who experienced much the same.
But I was still writing in those days and learned during an interview with Sabine NWR's manager that hunters there were averaging very near limits of ducks taking advantage of some of the best habitat anywhere until Rita and Ike flushed it. While I gather the habitat's largely recovered, one can't help but how the refuge can hold up to Lake Charles' population boom...
Ducaholic wrote:My point being there will come a day when the peak we are riding will end. It can't last forever so never say never. So the notion that well managed private land will always flourish is not likely fact.
Rick wrote:Having just reread last September's teal season log for the way-too-manyeth time, I've reconsidered. You guys are right: it's over.
DComeaux wrote:Rick wrote:Having just reread last September's teal season log for the way-too-manyeth time, I've reconsidered. You guys are right: it's over.
I went over my logs from last year last night....It' really sucked.
Ducaholic wrote:DComeaux wrote:Rick wrote:Having just reread last September's teal season log for the way-too-manyeth time, I've reconsidered. You guys are right: it's over.
I went over my logs from last year last night....It' really sucked.
My last really good season was 2013/14. All of them are good because I just like to go but the truth is It's come down to the 5-6 real good hunts per year and 5-6 more that are ok. Given the fact that I go about 40 times per year you can do the math. Now granted some days are just not very ducky and I know when I wake up I'm wasting my time but some are very good ducks days and it's on those days that I wonder where the heck are they?
DComeaux wrote: We're rollin down hill like a snowball headed for hell
Rick wrote:That your way of paraphrasing Sitting Bull? "When the ducks are gone, we will shoot whoopers."
DComeaux wrote:He probably had no idea what he was aiming at, and thought it was just another one of the thousands of egrets, cranes or other non game species he's shot in his crawfish ponds.
Rick wrote:DComeaux wrote:He probably had no idea what he was aiming at, and thought it was just another one of the thousands of egrets, cranes or other non game species he's shot in his crawfish ponds.
He may not have known what he was shooting, but ain't no way he thought it was like any egret or heron he ever saw.
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