Post-Season 2018-2019

[Duck Engr]

Damned if we hunt 'em and damned if we don't.

A very fine line indeed. Maybe the squeaky wheel calling for lower limits back on the point system as you’ve described, then higher limits when it went to 6 and 60, and now I’m hearing rumblings of wanting lower limits again, has a way of naturally walking that fine line.

[Rick]

Probably good to remember that the original point system limit was historically crazy high, and then LDWF Lead Waterfowl Biologist and Mississippi Flyway Council member, Larry Soileau, told me that the Flyway Councils proposed it thinking it only a negotiating starting point, rather than what the actual limit would end up being. But the USFWS was so anxious for acceptance of their experimental Five Year Stabilized Management Plan that they acquiesced, which the late USFWS Senior Flyway Biologist, Art Brazda, told me was the biggest screw-up he'd seen during his long career, given that the PPR was subsequently drought stricken during that period, and PPR dependent species like pintails crossed the threshold where compensatory mortality became additive. Something which that once particularly abundant species (same low 10-point rating as teal) still hasn't recovered from.

So DU was arguing to maintain what biologists knew to be a stupid high limit, and even the halved point system limit was something the biology side of bio-politics strongly opposed. Brazda, for instance, limited his own hunting to green-wing teal, which were quick to over-fly the PPR to the stable aboreal forest region - and only shot drakes at that. Was also his oft-expressed wish that hunters would look upon individual ducks as their trophies, rather than seeing limits as such. Great guy I'm proud to have called "friend," as well as "source".

[Ducaholic]

I met Mr. Brazda at the Where Are The Ducks Meeting in New Iberia way back in 2002/2003. A very young Chad Manlove DU biologist and another good guy was also there. Seems like a long time ago.

As for lowering the limits if you had posed that questions to me between the 2005 and 2013 season when we were absolutely hammering them I would have said are you crazy. After 4 less than stellar seasons and one abysmal effort I'm all for it. I

[Rick]

I met Mr. Brazda...Seems like a long time ago.

Art stayed in service well after he could have retired "for fear a new guy would screw it up" before finally retiring to his wife's family land in ND. But his replacement is now retired, too, so it was a long time ago.

[DComeaux]

I met Mr. Brazda...Seems like a long time ago.

Art stayed in service well after he could have retired "for fear a new guy would screw it up" before finally retiring to his wife's family land in ND. But his replacement is now retired, too, so it was a long time ago.

Mr. Brazda attended a local DU event I was at some years ago and he had videos to show of his work on the nesting grounds. We were at the old Evangeline downs horse track (it's no longer standing) so there were video monitors everywhere. I was standing next to him when the video started and no one was paying attention to it, nor could we hear the commentary. He stood up and began yelling, voicing his displeasure with these inconsiderate, so called conservationist. I was only there because the guy I worked for had bought a table and I felt obligated.

[Rick]

In my book, he was a national treasure. Y'all missed out.

[DComeaux]

The man was very, very passionate about his work. I could listen to him talk about ducks forever.

[Darren]

Last summer we were tracking colorful drought maps, boy did that change in a hurry. In response to what undoubtedly contributed significantly to poor hunting this season, the US Army Corps of Engineers is opening the Bonnet Carre spillway today for an unprecedented third time in four years. Usually there are a number of years between these events, and today is very early in the spring season for such an event given that snow melt is not yet much of a factor but rather extreme rain alone across the sprawling Mississippi River watershed which just happens to corresponded with the Mississippi Flyway.

To that end:

https://www.edf.org/media/unprecedented ... ippi-river

“This latest opening is unprecedented not just in terms of frequency, but also because it is due to the wettest winter in the Mississippi Valley in 124 years".

and more data

https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans ... c191a.html

Pic of that freigher passing Jackson Square.....

[DComeaux]

I sure hope the need to open the Morganza spillway does't arise. It's devastating to all wildlife in the basin. I don't want to see pictures of drowned deer on the evening news again, or levees full of frightened animals with no where to go. The turkey population hasn't rebounded from the last release.

Man should have never screwed with the Mississippi, we should have adjusted our lives accordingly. I have more compassion for animals than I do most people.

[Darren]

Can't imagine it's off the table at this point given the peak that's forecast, but yea it's a sad deal with so much wildlife loss. Also have to hope that the Old River control structure remains sound.

[DComeaux]

Very good possibility of this happening one day.



https://www.nola.com/environment/2017/12/rising_river_bottom_could_swit.html?fbclid=IwAR1IpBYXytObvGqlvSQpzVVleMM09Rj211i6c6kLIolcENdBs3NoFmBpSWQ

[Darren]

I remember reading that when it came out; talk about a massive shift in S La economics and complete loss of communities.

[BGkirk]

I know it maybe Bad short term because of flooding but would the spillways be open long enough to move sediment where needed?


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[Darren]

I know it maybe Bad short term because of flooding but would the spillways be open long enough to move sediment where needed?

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Good question: the location of current spillways are designed to take pressure off levees in BR and New Orleans thus they're pretty well upstream of where the sediment load is needed. As a result, they really don't do the coast any good.

For an example of one natural diversion that is doing some good, look up Mardi Gras Pass.

[Darren]

Google your name now and again, you might be surprised where you find your picture.

Carolina Sportsman Jan 2019.JPG

[Rick]

WFN's very own cover boy.

[DComeaux]

Carolina!

[Darren]

Carolina!

At least Harry made the cover in Louisiana. I'm told that generally duck/waterfowl related covers do not sell as well as deer here in La. I'm working on it!

[Rick]

Hope they paid you for cover useage.

[Darren]

Hope they paid you for cover useage.

Am told check went to an old address of mine, and later found out they had up to 3 total addresses on file for me, 2 of which I've not lived at for over 4.5 years.....and have regularly gotten paid at current address by them in last few years. Sounded like a legit mixup, just glad I stumbled on it now, halfway close to when it came out back in Jan. Have a couple of back issues said to be heading my way for good measure


As an update to post-season happenings: took the time to go through a pile of decoys that had been taken home from the Bunkie camp for sorting/patching/rigging. Sorted them into two batches below, and threw away a few that were largely beyond repair.

38 in total, sold this week

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Kept for re-deployment Nov 2019:

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None of these saw action in the dismal 2018 season, not that they would have done us any good in the field. However, with report of rice coming back for us this fall, we'll take the few more for increased spreading of the spread with hopes of looking less like the next blind over. Took the revenues from the sale and ordered some new TX rigs from Mack's on post-season sale.

[Deltaman]

Great Pic on the cover Darren!!!!!!!!

[Darren]

Great Pic on the cover Darren!!!!!!!!

Thanks! Now working on getting them to do a duck cover in La

[Rick]

Just need a pic of a duck holding a deer with a bass on one antler and speckled trout on the other.

[Darren]

Made it down to the shell beach camp to do some cleanup, especially on the bay boat in prep for warmer weather. Did a little fishing here and there, when wind/gnats combination was more wind and less gnats known to be so miserable this time of year. Highlight of weekend was getting my daughter on her first fish (sheepshead), and she is now all in, hook, line & sinker. Also a great hand when fetching a new shrimp whenever someone on board needed a new one for bait, was so proud!

Did see quite a bit of scaup/dosgris out and about, and mottleds seemed very active. Was neat to be out there with weather so nice. Came back to BR and knocked out remaining task of re-rigging/converting rigging on about 3 doz of our culled "keeper" dekes, so have another 3 doz to run this fall in the fields given enough open water to place them.

[Darren]

Johnny and I headed up to the Bunkie area camp saturday AM for some work inside before it would get too hot in coming weeks. Took the time to evict a sizable rat snake upon entry and then got to our tasks of paneling installation on a back wall of loft that's long been just open insulation and studs...harboring critters.

Water is off most fields in area but field on front side of blind is still being drained as a large ditch is feeding the cut north of it and all drains through it to corner near woodline so will be a bit more time before its all off. That dang tall weed that screwed us this season is still indeed standing today.

Only task we failed at was getting blind pumped out of it's current 4-5 inches of water when bilge pump rig crapped out on us before bailing an ounce. Will return for that soon

Carpenter bee traps hard at work

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Finally got brave enough to drag this fella out, about 5 ft in all. Relocated him to another area of farm and set free

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panel effort ongoing

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under blind lid nope nope nope, stomp stomp stomp, eight of them in total plus the egg sacks

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rear cut

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blind and front cut

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Upgraded some decoy rigs, cleaned here and there. Good to be up there. Zero ducks or geese spotted or heard, crawfiishing ops in full force throughout area but not on this particular farm from where I observed. Maybe they have some traps out on other end of it

[Darren]

Good read whether you're interested in sub-gauge options, or just want to daydream of bluewings over the blocks in September

https://www.ducks.org/hunting/shooting- ... MoukLZSI34

[Rick]

Good read...

You applying for DU's marketing department?

[Darren]

Good read...

You applying for DU's marketing department?

Not too soon. Just enjoying reading duck chatter during May

[Darren]

Sounds like the Dakota's are on a comeback and might serve the birds well this year. Can't come as too much of a surprise that the upper midwest is wet, so maybe there's a bright spot to the epic rains of the 2018 season that did us in.


https://www.facebook.com/DeltaFans/vide ... 189668393/

[DComeaux]

Made me happy reading what you did with the snake. My wife thinks I'm nuts, but If it's not a dangerous species, or a dangerous situation no matter the species, I will take it away and let it go.

Too many years have gone by with good nesting reports not translating into anything worthwhile concerning fall migration for me to get my hopes up. I'm really numb in that aspect of waterfowl hunting, yet I'll probably keep checking on things as we move into early summer. Thanks for posting that link.