2018-2019 Season Log

[Rick]

So far, so good. But four of the guys are coming back for more this afternoon, and you never really know until you do...

[Rick]

Date: 9/17 Mon

Time: afternoon

Location: S. of Gueydan

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: way the hey too light westerly

Temperature: "feels like 106" and did feel like at least that

Moon phase:

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Could well be the heat had the birds sitting in the shade, as the flight began somewhat later than it has been, but there were still more than enough moving - beginning about the time I was starting to wonder if they would.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: God bless Alan Stanley and his loud-a--ed calls, as the teal cut Stanley Deceiver and acting the fool with it broke birds from far, wide and silly high.

Hunters: 4, Mike, John and Glen from the weekend plus new man, Ryan

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Having to be very careful not to literally kill Marsh in the heat. Picked up most of the close stuff myself, begged the guys to finish swimming crips while they were still close enough and mostly just sent Marsh for those that weren't. Of which there were still too many. Even then, he's trying to cool off by laying in soupy hot water.

Special Equipment: SOS

Curses: Just the heat and how hard it is on Marsh.

Kudos: The guys are getting their barrels dialed in and more birds falling with most of their volleys, which got us out in relatively short order.

Birds By Species: 24 bw teal

Photo Ops: The bug, Mike, Glen, John and Ryan

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[Deltaman]

Sweet afternoon hunt!!!!! You and Marsh have been earning your money in this heat, and glad to see that you have had enough traffic to make it memorable for your parties

[Rick]

Much as I want to "make hay while the sun shines," I'm not looking forward to that sun again this afternoon and sincerely worried about how Marsh is, or isn't, holding up. Shot my birds again this morning and, much as I'd like to, shouldn't take a gun to help make his job easier this afternoon. Really, really, really wish the guys would stay after their chipped birds and finish those still head-up within range before celebrating their sort-of successes.

[DComeaux]

Much as I want to "make hay while the sun shines," I'm not looking forward to that sun again this afternoon and sincerely worried about how Marsh is, or isn't, holding up. Shot my birds again this morning and, much as I'd like to, shouldn't take a gun to help make his job easier this afternoon. Really, really, really wish the guys would stay after their chipped birds and finish those still head-up within range before celebrating their sort-of successes.

Just wear tenny shoes and chase those crips yourself, with your customers gun.

In all seriousness, that heat is going to be brutal on a working dog today. Heat index forecast in the triple digits.

[Rick]

Date: 9/18 Tue

Time: morning

Location: mudhole

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: calm

Temperature: hot

Moon phase:

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Much slower than yesterday, with little shooting in our marsh or Cherry Ridge.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Still thanking Alan Stanley's far-reaching Deceiver for most of our good.

Hunters: 2, Philip and Lori

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Wore Marsh flat out looking for one on the flotant Philip was positive went down but I didn't see, despite being focused on the action on their end, and then left one out there that I apparently miss-marked and couldn't put what was left of the poor pup on. Know it went down and called it a "limit" and quit before Marsh croaked.

Special Equipment: SOS

Curses: just the heat and lost bird

Kudos: Nice time with nice folks.

Birds By Species: 17 bw teal

Photo Ops: Lori took this shot of an old guy with a nice dog:

thumbnail_IMG_1134a.jpg

[Rick]

Just wear tenny shoes and chase those crips yourself, with your customers gun.

In all seriousness, that heat is going to be brutal on a working dog today. Heat index forecast in the triple digits.

I'm expecting a repeat of yesterday's "feels like 100-something" - and Hades. But praying for rain...

[Rick]

Rick from your reports you have a lot more teal than we do.
Hoping by Friday some teal will move into our area.

No question we've been blessed, but the "trick" has been not to let anything close enough to be seen get past. And I've no doubt we'll all be in need of new birds before Friday.

[DComeaux]

Are there any weather changes coming? Looked pretty stagnant last I checked?

Lat I saw, we may not get anything until mid October.

[Deltaman]

I’d like to hear a recording of the deceiver when you’re getting after them. Even more I’d love to watch it happen as they come down from high


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Me too, as well as your "momma call"!
Rick, I gotta say, you are the first person I have ever heard of that uses your teal call to draw them in effectively, regularly. I've always figured them to be a fast in and out of decoys other than an occasional "I saw them in time to call, and they actually turned", which has been far and few between for me over the years. Such a nervous little bird, and the dickens to actually scout without putting them up in the air because they are typically in the marsh and not sitting out in the open in bays like most big ducks.

[DComeaux]

If 10-day models hold true a cool shot may be coming for the last weekend of the month.

This would be sweet!

[Bud]

Only way I'd like to hear that calling would be in the blind with ear protection turned up loud.( hard time hearing lately)
Love to add six to the strap and enjoy the whole show. Some things in this world seem priceless.

[Rick]

Date: 9/18 Tue

Time: afternoon

Location: S of Gueydan

Cloud Cover: Summer storm to partly cloudy

Wind Direction and Velocity: Strong southerly to light NW-erly

Temperature: tolerable to nearly not

Moon phase:

Special Notes: Hurried out to the blind ahead of my crew to move the rig for the strong south wind, then had to hustle to put it back as was when that faded.

Waterfowl Activity: Birds were moving with the weather when I arrived and continued to do so until we were done.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: More than a few bunches seemed to be buying in then pushed off hard when they realized where they were - or one of the guys gave us up. But mostly the former, I'd think on our third afternoon in the same spot.

Hunters: 4, John and Ryan again plus two new guests of Ryans

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Marsh had a much easier time than yesterday, as the guys were better about finishing their crips.

Special Equipment: 2 spinners, large and small

Curses: Marsh and I both could use a break from the heat.

Kudos: Guys shot well (John began with a triple) and finished in fairly short order.

Birds By Species: 24 bw teal

Photo Ops: left the camera at home out of the weather.

[Rick]

No worries about the jinx, been blessed that the gunning's held up this long and don't expect it to last. They're teal.

Did do the math to know that yesterday morning tied us, numerically, with last year's whole miserable September season. So we'll still be ahead of that even if the bottom drops out entirely today, which it very well may. Isaac's generally much better little duck blind had but 4 yesterday, and I'm sure I'm due for my time in the barrel. Especially given the stale weather pattern.

[Rick]

Date: 9/19 Wed

Time: morning

Location: mudhole

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: dead calm to barely a breath northerly

Temperature: hot

Moon phase:

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Saw very little of anything: big, little or in-between.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Thankfully very good, though a couple singles bounced off the locations/spinners/us? hard.

Hunters: 2, camp regular, Tom, and a mutual friend, Jacob

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Was pretty much a day off for the bug.

Special Equipment: SOS

Curses: Had three birds on the water, 2 where the run meets the pond and 1 in the run behind the blind island, go missing and finally saw the 6-7' culprit lurking perhaps 15' from the dog stand.

Kudos: Knowing the guys for years made it pretty much a buddy hunt, they hit what came, and right after telling of how I treat bands by asking who shot the bird as if it were something protected, Tom whacked a single crosser I went to beat the gator to and found reason to ask, "Which one of you meatheads shot this bird?"

Birds By Species: 9 bw teal (1 banded)

[Darren]

Wow, a third band! Lotto ticket?

Lucky rabbit or gator foot? Can I borrow it?

[Deltaman]

Pesky little duck eating bastages.............ashamed you can't dissuade it with a load across the nose from 40 yds or so!

[Ericdc]

It’s been done


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[Rick]

This gator either just showed up or got bold enough to come close enough to the blind to be problematic. Wouldn't be wise for him to let me get within push pole range, as I'm an expert nose bopper.