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MARSH BEAR wrote:I agree Darren - the last 2 weeks of January usually have nothing in our marsh. All our ducks have found "safe zones" by that time and we have nothing to shoot at. I wrote the commission concerning the new zones, and got a polite reply thanking me for my input and they would consider it - the only consideration it got was what trash can to put it in.

Sure seems that way in my experience with the commission. Again I emphasize the commission because a lot of what they did was not what Larry had data to support or recommended.

And worse yet, putting the youth hunts (and now veterans hunts) at end of the season in the east zone was always something I fought against but some insisted on giving these groups they're own crack at the birds at end of the season when they're smartest, and (for the kids) the weather is coldest. Yep, great idea. Why?

Feedback from one commissioner who is no longer serving was that "aint no way we're letting kids go shoot up our holes before the adults get to", something a well known NE La outfitter echoed to me at the Louisiana Sportsman show about that same time.

I don't mind them splitting the east zone youth and veterans hunts to an early hunt and a late hunt. I've had success on both ends of the season. Sometimes in early November there is very little habitat in north Louisiana except for pumped water, whereas in February there's a lot of water and sometimes a lot of birds.

I do like the hunts being on Saturday versus Saturday and Sunday of same weekend.


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On a positive note at least from my perspective it’s getting really dry in the Midwest. I’m wishing it stop raining here for the next two months.

Ducaholic wrote:On a positive note at least from my perspective it’s getting really dry in the Midwest.

Indeed it is. Looks to be warm for much of October so wouldn't hold breath for abnormally cool weather in coming 2-3 weeks from what I'm seeing. But the indicators from teal season via blue wings and green wings give reason to believe the migration is/could be ahead of schedule, with the flyway wide drought playing into that heavily. Few minor fronts on tap this week and I think next as well, just not jacket weather or anything.

This one could do some good up north for us, though doesn't look like it'll make it down to us. Mid next week:

Yep nothing plunging southward in the next two weeks. Still got time but I’d like to see some sub freezing temps in the Dakotas on a couple of occasions before Nov. 1st.

BOSS had their 2 3/4" #4's in stock today for what was maybe a couple of hours. Jumped on that given the price of plain ol steel shot is darn near in the same ballpark these days, where you can find it. Seeing plenty of $25+ boxes of steel that previously were $17. And when you are finding reasonably priced steel in stock (< $20 a box), it's only the BB or 1's that are in stock, nothing smaller.

Still got time but I’d like to see some sub freezing temps in the Dakotas on a couple of occasions before Nov. 1st.

No doubt, though would point out that recent history has shown that it's by no means a guarantee of promising numbers on hand to start the season, especially in recent years where we've had a wet flyway. We'll wait and see! In the meantime I'm not too upset with the warm temps in hopes of helping my marsh to recover from Ida, especially for the SAV that managed to hang on.

Today's front, though meager, has indeed pushed all the way through SE La.



We'll take it! It'll at least help to keep our water levels in check a bit before winds come back around easterly in couple of days.

And just for fun, we'll revisit this in a few days to see if it's at all still possible. But 15 days out.......





What else ya got to do this time of year?

Planning our trip to Kansas hunting October 30th through November 3rd.


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I just want the rain to stop. I'm no longer a fan of cold weather.

DComeaux wrote:I just want the rain to stop. I'm no longer a fan of cold weather.

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DComeaux wrote:I just want the rain to stop.

This year's been brutal, transformed a huge section of my backyard. What was good grass, now dollar weed and other junk.

Darren wrote:

DComeaux wrote:I just want the rain to stop.

This year's been brutal, transformed a huge section of my backyard. What was good grass, now dollar weed and other junk.

I have the same. My yard is a marsh right now. Boots required.

"Marsh" is a good description; after 7 years in this house with nary a rut, sunk my mower 3-4 times this summer. Getting it out was a whole lot of fun, I assure you.

Back in the saddle, watching weather forecasts, seeing some snow storms showing at higher elevations and couple of fronts starting this weekend and next week.

This weekend


Next Wed/Thurs



No big plunges of frigid temps but cooler temps and north winds that should be enough to nudge early migrators. Not great, but about par I'd figure, glad to see some weather action worth tracking, like some snow/rain for the breeding grounds that's desperately needed:

From Delta last week:




"Find the water, and you'll find the ducks." Sounds like the colorful drought map holds true on the ground.

We have plenty of water.

I'm excited to be in the 40's next week.




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I'm ready for the cool mornings and evenings.

Prolly fake news.

Was a big weekend at buddy's Bunkie farm camp. I was out of town but johnny went lend a hand or two





Old 12 ft blind had floor "like Swiss cheese" on removal, will be scrapped. New one is 15 ft long and much wider across the bottom than the prior one, has two dog boxes, one likely to be mostly used for storage. We'll get a bench made along with a wooden subfloor to keep feet off the steel bottom.

First Class!!!!!!!

Deltaman wrote:First Class!!!!!!!

Ducks or no ducks, should be comfy.

Having the right equipment makes the job a lot easier.

Ericdc wrote:

DComeaux wrote:I just want the rain to stop. I'm no longer a fan of cold weather.

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I'm not but the colder the better. I want every field from Alexandria to the North Pole to freeze solid for multiple days multiple times this season.

Ducaholic wrote:

Ericdc wrote:

DComeaux wrote:I just want the rain to stop. I'm no longer a fan of cold weather.

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I'm not but the colder the better. I want every field from Alexandria to the North Pole to freeze solid for multiple days multiple times this season.

The funny thing is that I want the same thing in northern Illinois. I want ducks and geese piling into the cooling lakes by Thanksgiving. I'm tired of seeing wads of ducks in January, but not even get one good day of duck hunting around the cooling lakes before the end of the season. We haven't had a really good winter in a few years.

Darren wrote:

Deltaman wrote:First Class!!!!!!!

Ducks or no ducks, should be comfy.

Dat’s Important! Better start hustling some Johnson grass to cover that freshly disturbed earth.

Darren wrote:Old 12 ft blind had floor "like Swiss cheese" on removal, will be scrapped. New one is 15 ft long and much wider across the bottom than the prior one, has two dog boxes, one likely to be mostly used for storage. We'll get a bench made along with a wooden subfloor to keep feet off the steel bottom.

Do you know who manufactured the pit?

Ducaholic wrote:Dat’s Important! Better start hustling some Johnson grass to cover that freshly disturbed earth.

Just don't plant rye grass: practically glows and is the devil to hide or match.

Johnson grass for days all around, likely will just cut it near the camp and cover the bare earth with it. Last season a neighboring blind got replaced and they did a similar ground-covering effort, worked fine.

Blind was made by Hughes in Jennings, LA.

https://www.hughesmfg.net/blinds

MARSH BEAR wrote:Having the right equipment makes the job a lot easier.

Field hand had the old pit out and requisite larger hole dug by the evening prior, machine parked nearby. Sounded like the whole thing went far smoother (and quicker) than even the best case they'd hoped for.