Post-Season '21-'22

[Darren]

Past 2 years We were just trying to rack up as many decoys as we could to put around blinds… and after this year I don’t know if that is a good idea or just a waste of time.
If we continue to cater to the 99% of teal that made up our bags this year then I’d all be for boat blinds and picking up decoys every hunt.
Maybe next year will have an influx of gadwall and keep us on our toes
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We did most of our damage in the marsh this year over 7-9 decoys total, mostly grays with a pair of pins......but on the X. Recently noticed a group on YouTube making videos from hunting what was my old stompin grounds with good success, doing so over large spreads they were paddling in. There's not really an X to be had but the numbers served them well in the traffic, near big water the birds wanted to raft on.

In Bunkie I'm hoping to work on adding more spoons; they match the most common species we see there, they SHOW in the stubble, and perhaps most importantly to me, relatively few others are using them in any significant numbers at other area blinds.

Maybe need this guy's custom full body spoons!??

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https://www.facebook.com/DecoyAddiction


I mean, if you're not hunting over full body spoonies, what are you even doing?

[Deltaman]

Good looking Hollywood decoys

[ryan_k]

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[Darren]

I do like that ^^

[Darren]

blue wings coming back through, down by Buras off Mississippi River

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[DComeaux]

I've seen some beautiful specimens on my drive to the camp over the last month. Lots of alligators as well. I wonder how many blue wing have become lunch for those.

[Rick]

...I wonder how many blue wing have become lunch for those.

Did farm releases on Cherry Ridge and our marsh Friday and found myself wondering the same thing about both blue-wings and black-bellies.

[MARSH BEAR]

Darren what is the ground water situation in the Dakotas and lower Canada, has it improved from last year?

[Darren]

Darren what is the ground water situation in the Dakotas and lower Canada, has it improved from last year?

Comparing same date a year ago shows that indeed we are in better shape up there right now than going into last spring in the areas key to production, the eastern sides of the Dakotas. Haven't dug into rain records or anything to try to get an idea of how much better but better nonetheless. No idea on the conditions north of the border but it had been in really bad shape for a few years too.

March 24, 2022

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March 23, 2021

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Anecdotally, the MS River is currently pretty high, and that's typically indicative of precip well to our north.

[Duck Engr]

Not a good look currently in Canada PPR except in southeast Saskatchewan. Hopefully they'll get some more snow melt to help out.

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[Darren]

Sooo better in the US, but WORSE in Canada.......yikes !

[Rick]

Don't know if you've any interest in such, Darren, but the banding crew will be working blue-wings near Krotz Springs again this weekend and seeking hands. Requires waders and willingness to meet at 5:10 AM Saturday and/or Sunday morning.

Probably about as near to you as such gatherings ever get.

[Darren]

Don't know if you've any interest in such, Darren, but the banding crew will be working blue-wings near Krotz Springs again this weekend and seeking hands. Requires waders and willingness to meet at 5:10 AM Saturday and/or Sunday morning.

Probably about as near to you as such gatherings ever get.

many thanks for the notice, DC had advised as much earlier in the week and I also reached out to Paul. Right now the wife and I have the willingness and availability part in hand, but I'm wondering if my waders are at the SB camp, and know for sure hers are too. Think we'd be of use if one or both of us didn't have any? Paul mentioned Liz may have a pair for Ella to borrow.

[Rick]

Liz just told me they're still short and she'll be sending out another request.

Also just checked my spare size 9s for leaks (while being ogled by both a town cop and game warden) and found both boot attachment seams too leaky for service without repair that may not be dry, much less tested, by morning. But if that's your size and you need, I can break out a hair dryer and cross my fingers...

Would think more hands helpful, even if only for dry ground handling while banding, but will PM you Liz's number.

[Darren]

Liz just told me they're still short and she'll be sending out another request.

Also just checked my spare size 9s for leaks (while being ogled by both a town cop and game warden) and found both boot attachment seams too leaky for service without repair that may not be dry, much less tested, by morning. But if that's your size and you need, I can break out a hair dryer and cross my fingers...

Would think more hands helpful, even if only for dry ground handling while banding, but will PM you Liz's number.

thanks again.

I dont mind getting wet, throw on dry shoes to go home. Really hate to just not go if I can't put hands on my own d*mn waders.......what kind of duck "hunter" have I become??? Wife was not-all-that-surprisingly excited to go so maybe we just plan on it and help however we can. Have knee boots and such

[Darren]

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Sounds about right, front end was awfully mild save for a few front days.

[Ducaholic]

We need -4 to -6 in November and December

[ryan_k]

Don't know if you've any interest in such, Darren, but the banding crew will be working blue-wings near Krotz Springs again this weekend and seeking hands. Requires waders and willingness to meet at 5:10 AM Saturday and/or Sunday morning.

Probably about as near to you as such gatherings ever get.

Has this already happened ?


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[Rick]

Has this already happened ?

Was last weekend, but we rebaited, so there will likely be future captures in one or both of the same sites.

[Darren]

Don't know if you've any interest in such, Darren, but the banding crew will be working blue-wings near Krotz Springs again this weekend and seeking hands. Requires waders and willingness to meet at 5:10 AM Saturday and/or Sunday morning.

Probably about as near to you as such gatherings ever get.

Has this already happened ?
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Ryan, would hope you get to help out some time, was really rewarding.

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Hope to see them again in about 5 months. Certainly was striking of how many more drakes there were than hens; can't recall a specific count to get a ratio but pretty danged obvious, seemed like I compiled crate after crate of white crescents and far too few crates of brown with blue patches. Sure hope (for all of us) that those gals find water + grass and are successful.

[ryan_k]

Yea I wanted to do it a few years ago, had talked with Paul just never was able to
Definitely want to


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[Darren]

Glad to see reports of much improved pond conditions on the breeding grounds.

This shows how dry its been down on this end of the flyway, from right before the season through this spring.

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We usually curse the mid to later season rains for flooding up backwaters all over central and northern La, spreading birds thin with abundant unpressured waters. But this season unpressured water was at a premium, so we found they often stayed put when they found it, even under seemingly ideal weather days we expected some flight....no need to fly when food and safety combined.

A few mornings of very weak flights gave us thoughts of "no birds" only to drive down the road to find thousands piled up on water that was known not to shoot at them....they're smart. So with the chart above, it's no wonder the Bunkie farm field flood would barely cover a boot foot when typically it was knee deep by season's end.

[DComeaux]

I like to see it drying out down here. This will give the marsh on the coast time to hardened up a bit and maybe let a little widgeon grass and other duck food to get established. Lots of dry ponds down there right now.

[Rick]

I like to see it drying out down here. This will give the marsh on the coast time to hardened up a bit and maybe let a little widgeon grass and other duck food to get established. Lots of dry ponds down there right now.

On the other hand, if the marsh doesn't rise this month, a lot of gator nests will be built where substantial summer rains will drown the eggs in a year when our hatchling market is finally loosening up again.

[Ducaholic]

I like to see it drying out down here. This will give the marsh on the coast time to hardened up a bit and maybe let a little widgeon grass and other duck food to get established. Lots of dry ponds down there right now.

Drying periods are good for all types of habitat including cypress swamps where I like to toll. With man's intervention and desire for waterfront property many areas are not allowed to go dry anymore. Over time this causes adverse impacts which end up allow invasive veggies to take hold. It's tough to get people to understand that dry periods are necessary.

[DComeaux]

I like to see it drying out down here. This will give the marsh on the coast time to hardened up a bit and maybe let a little widgeon grass and other duck food to get established. Lots of dry ponds down there right now.

On the other hand, if the marsh doesn't rise this month, a lot of gator nests will be built where substantial summer rains will drown the eggs in a year when our hatchling market is finally loosening up again.

Hopefully the rains hold off until they're done. I was told the Chenier area hasn't seen a substantial rain event since September of last year.

[BGkirk]

I like to see it drying out down here. This will give the marsh on the coast time to hardened up a bit and maybe let a little widgeon grass and other duck food to get established. Lots of dry ponds down there right now.

On the other hand, if the marsh doesn't rise this month, a lot of gator nests will be built where substantial summer rains will drown the eggs in a year when our hatchling market is finally loosening up again.

Hopefully the rains hold off until they're done. I was told the Chenier area hasn't seen a substantial rain event since September of last year.

We haven’t even picked up our decoys yet… too shallow to get boats loaded with decoys in and out and not dry enough to simply walk and pick them up. However just on the other side of the road is dried up ponds you can walk out in


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[Darren]

I like to see it drying out down here. This will give the marsh on the coast time to hardened up a bit and maybe let a little widgeon grass and other duck food to get established. Lots of dry ponds down there right now.

On the other hand, if the marsh doesn't rise this month, a lot of gator nests will be built where substantial summer rains will drown the eggs in a year when our hatchling market is finally loosening up again.

Hopefully the rains hold off until they're done. I was told the Chenier area hasn't seen a substantial rain event since September of last year.

We haven’t even picked up our decoys yet… too shallow to get boats loaded with decoys in and out and not dry enough to simply walk and pick them up. However just on the other side of the road is dried up ponds you can walk out in


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Just gettin' an early start!

[Darren]

Neat listen if you've got some time, little update on the breeding ground surveys as well. Habitat discussion starts after 18 min mark.

[Duck Engr]

Sweet, thanks! I’ll pop that on tomorrow so everyone walking by my office will think I’m in a meeting or on the phone haha