2020-2021 Preseason...

[Rick]

Was in the marsh at 7 this morning, but still little of anything passing until 8-ish, at least that I noticed. Mostly dribs and drabs of woodies with a very few mottleds and three stings of black-bellies, all passing through. Still haven't seen a teal in the marsh since the storm, but got reliable word that there are a mess on the south end of Dixie's rice, just above Cherry Ridge.

Water's dropping fairly fast, so I bailed the blind and put the floors and furniture in. Also made a mat for the boat hide door.

[DComeaux]

They'll be there for you on Saturday morning as usual. Thankfully the approaching front will stall well NW of us this week and not push out what I've seen in photos and videos lately to their tropical paradise further south. It's going to be depressing not being in the blind Saturday morning. I may even weep a little.

[Rick]

No promises, but last I heard our weekend crew from Alex might have to cancel due to lodging lost to longer term reconstruction workers...

[DComeaux]

No promises, but last I heard our weekend crew from Alex might have to cancel due to lodging lost to longer term reconstruction workers...

Good luck finding rooms anywhere around here for 100 miles or more. I got lucky and was able to rent a camp in Pecan Island for a crew installing the electrical service to a generator and the radio equipment cabinets for a new tower near the Rockefeller refuge. We were working on this project for Verizon prior to the hurricane and it's now turned into a urgent need. Jumping through hoops is now taking place.

[Rick]

Mudhole's ready and waiting, and I've kinda sorta braced the broken boathouse roof I doubt will ever be properly repaired. Still not sure if we'll have hunters, but I'm goin', regardless. Isaac's been out there the past couple days, and said he saw a teal this morning and others passing yesterday afternoon.

Still haven't seen one since the storm, myself, but hearing more and more good ag land reports. Fingers and toes crossed that we'll see the opening weekend norm when they're pushed out of rice...

(But I'd sure rather see the marsh as it was pre-storm. That was something.)

[Johnc]

Mudhole's ready and waiting, and I've kinda sorta braced the broken boathouse roof I doubt will ever be properly repaired. Still not sure if we'll have hunters, but I'm goin', regardless. Isaac's been out there the past couple days, and said he saw a teal this morning and others passing yesterday afternoon.

Still haven't seen one since the storm, myself, but hearing more and more good ag land reports. Fingers and toes crossed that we'll see the opening weekend norm when they're pushed out of rice...

(But I'd sure rather see the marsh as it was pre-storm. That was something.)

Multiple reliable reports of birds. You should do well

[DComeaux]

Mudhole's ready and waiting, and I've kinda sorta braced the broken boathouse roof I doubt will ever be properly repaired. Still not sure if we'll have hunters, but I'm goin', regardless. Isaac's been out there the past couple days, and said he saw a teal this morning and others passing yesterday afternoon.

Still haven't seen one since the storm, myself, but hearing more and more good ag land reports. Fingers and toes crossed that we'll see the opening weekend norm when they're pushed out of rice...

(But I'd sure rather see the marsh as it was pre-storm. That was something.)

Multiple reliable reports of birds. You should do well

Hearing and seeing the same thing.

[Rick]

I;m not nearly so worried about the weekend as when the rice pressure is off during the week. Telling myself that the few woodies I see passing are finding something they like in someone's marsh, despite the black water. Or some sort of oasis within it. Maybe within Little Pecan Island's high levees.

Heard yesterday, but do not know, that Miami's not allowing hunting, which would little doubt tilt the bubble some, this way or that, some, too.

[BGkirk]

I was already afraid not many hunters would be out and about in the marsh on Saturday to keep birds moving. However, I suppose it’s a good thing that they can rest.
Hoping we still get some coming in from the rice and don’t taste the water til they splash in the decoys


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[Rick]

Was in the marsh working on a balky motor for a while this morning, and my test drive put seven mottleds out of Issac's pond and kept a bigger bunch of maybe twice that from putting into a pothole between Gabe and Ed's blinds. Nice to see birds apparently starting to use us again...

But still haven't seen a teal there or in my travels since the storm. Expect to rectify that tomorrow evening while prepping an ag land spot for Sat and Sun afternoons' crew.

[Rick]

Larry's September survey is out and numbers are up, but -

"The 202,000 blue-wings estimated from SW LA transects is 45% higher than the most recent 10-year average of 139,000, and nearly all of them were seen in agricultural fields. Marsh habitats in this region were greatly impacted by hurricane Laura with high water, blocked drainages from extensive debris, and vegetation damage from storm surge and salinity. We saw virtually no blue-winged teal and very few waterfowl of any species in the marsh along established transects."

Sure would have preferred to learn there were substantial pockets of them out there somewhere to increase our traffic chances.

[DComeaux]

I read that as soon as it reached my inbox. Seems you have a bunch in a stones throw from you.

[pjfreeman5]

Rick, if you get any openings Monday or Tuesday, give me a shout!

[BGkirk]

We rarely see teal in our marsh prior to sat. I know I’ve mentioned that before but I try not to worry about it because year after year they flee from the rice and come sailing from the north. I don’t think Rockefeller’s holding power has ever helped us, but maybe they are always going to Rockefeller ?

Second hand report from a guy who is running oil and gas fellas around with his airport is seeing them in grand Chenier, not sure exactly where.


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[Rick]

Rick, if you get any openings Monday or Tuesday, give me a shout!

Hey, PJ, how you been? Understand that my mornings are booked at least through next weekend, but there should be openings somewhere after this Sunday. Adrianne's the only one apt to know for sure.

[Rick]

Finally saw post-storm teal this morning. Lots and Lots of teal in stubbles south and west of Gueydan and enjoyed a sweet show while setting up an ag land spot. Spinnerman would have been proud of the ones landing with the decoys as they were being tossed.

[pjfreeman5]

Been doing great man! Busy as can be with work these days! im gonna touch base with her !

[Rick]

Clark Cormier texted this morning to report five specks over Cherry Ridge.

[Ericdc]

The guy we lease from saw a big bunch flying over camp this morning near Oak Ridge, LA.


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[Ericdc]

Nice teal sighting at pond this morning
These dropped from way the hey up coming out of north wind gave me a great show.


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[Duck Engr]

Got reports yesterday from our lease neighbors of the first specks showing. The time is here fellas!

[Darren]

Clark Cormier texted this morning to report five specks over Cherry Ridge.

During Sunday's boat ride back in, I told our guide that I figured this would be the week we'd get speck reports due to the two fronts on tap.

[Rick]

Pulled the boats, but am taking a chance on empty blinds not popping...

Probably going to be sorry.

[Ericdc]

I hope popped blinds are the worst of it for you.


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[Rick]

Me, too.

[Deltaman]

Good Luck Rick, our thoughts will be with you, Dave, MB, Darren, and all of the others in the path of this storm. What a pisser to have one this late in the season, and track the same way

[Darren]

I opted to leave our boat on trailer under the camp in Shell Beach this morning, after waking up to the surge forecast reduced now to 2-4 ft potentially. Unfortunately, me catching a break is resulting in those who could really use the break....not getting it, and that just sucks in this year of so much chaos.

Hope all make out OK over that way to my west.

[Rick]

While checking on my tarps this morning, I snapped a shot of a Laura issue my neighbor was still whittling away at yesterday:

001a.jpg

More than a little glad it fell the direction it did. But I've a couple big oaks...well one and a half, now, and an old hackberry that can still make more of a mess

[Duck Engr]

Looks like a whole lotta chain sharpening. The longer she sits the tougher she gets.

[Rick]

You got it: saw a while, sharpen a while. They're at it again this morning, even with Delta less than a day out and rain bands starting.