2022 2023 Season Log

[Rick]

If someone else had to have my teal, I'm glad it was you guys.

[Ricky Spanish]

my teal

Funny.
The teal in Arkansas belong to me.

[DComeaux]

my teal

Funny.
The teal in Arkansas belong to me.

Actually, the teal in Arkansas belong to us. They're on loan.

[DComeaux]

Date: 1/22/2023

Temp - 50's?

Cloud Cover: Overcast to broken clouds.

Wind Direction and Velocity: NW 10 to 15 stronger at times

Waterfowl Activity: No movement

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Hunters: Me, Blake and Daniel

Birds By Species: 1 GW 1 spoonbill 1 scaup

The birds are still around they just didn't move this morning. When leaving I made the run to the east again on the northern part of the property just to see what had piled in and it was full. They just piled back in without much air time.

Daniel is a very young man that Blake invited to hunt with us that is ate up with waterfowl hunting. He hunts public near Rick Halls area and showed me pictures and told stories of their hunts. If I had to go through what he does to hunt waterfowl, I think I'd quit. He works his ass off, on foot. I hated sooooo much for him that the birds didn't move this morning. He thanked me several times before leaving and sent a couple of text later saying the same. I will have him back in the future. I know exactly how he feels, I've been there. Listening to him stirred feelings of my younger years with waterfowl hunting and the wonderful memories of those that took me under their wing, and to places at that time I could only dream of hunting.

[Rick]

Daniel is a very young man that Blake invited to hunt with us that is ate up with waterfowl hunting. He hunts public near Rick Halls area and showed me pictures and told stories of their hunts. If I had to go through what he does to hunt waterfowl, I think I'd quit. He works his ass off, on foot.

I've not fought that since '83, but still can't see a bateau with a pirogue go by while I'm airing a dog at 3am without thinking, "There's a real duck hunter."

[DComeaux]

Daniel is a very young man that Blake invited to hunt with us that is ate up with waterfowl hunting. He hunts public near Rick Halls area and showed me pictures and told stories of their hunts. If I had to go through what he does to hunt waterfowl, I think I'd quit. He works his ass off, on foot.

I've not fought that since '83, but still can't see a bateau with a pirogue go by while I'm airing a dog at 3am without thinking, "There's a real duck hunter."

Those days of being soaked and barefoot at the landing loading the boat after a hunt in 30 degree weather are long gone for me. (story in itself) The memories are good, though.

[Ricky Spanish]

Daniel is a very young man that Blake invited to hunt with us that is ate up with waterfowl hunting. He hunts public near Rick Halls area and showed me pictures and told stories of their hunts. If I had to go through what he does to hunt waterfowl, I think I'd quit. He works his ass off, on foot.

I've not fought that since '83, but still can't see a bateau with a pirogue go by while I'm airing a dog at 3am without thinking, "There's a real duck hunter."

Those days of being soaked and barefoot at the landing loading the boat after a hunt in 30 degree weather are long gone for me. (story in itself) The memories are good, though.

One of the most pitiful things I've ever seen was two guys in their 70s walking out of Carlisle walk-ins in the snow wearing socks on their feet, shotguns on their shoulders, dragging their waders.
The agony of de-feet

[Deltaman]

Glad the teal showed up for the party Saturday!!!

[Rick]

One of the most pitiful things I've ever seen was two guys in their 70s walking out of Carlisle walk-ins in the snow wearing socks on their feet, shotguns on their shoulders, dragging their waders.
The agony of de-feet

On the flip side at our local NWR, I once encountered an older gentleman seated in a pirogue being pulled out at hunt's end by two strapping sons wading on either side of the push pole it was tethered to. And before I could say "Good morning." he asserted, "I did it for them."

[Ricky Spanish]

One of the most pitiful things I've ever seen was two guys in their 70s walking out of Carlisle walk-ins in the snow wearing socks on their feet, shotguns on their shoulders, dragging their waders.
The agony of de-feet

On the flip side at our local NWR, I once encountered an older gentleman seated in a pirogue being pulled out at hunt's end by two strapping sons wading on either side of the push pole it was tethered to. And before I could say "Good morning." he asserted, "I did it for them."

Two seasons ago I tagged along with this big group of younger hunters and those kids were absolutely clueless about hunting ducks. Was very different.

[DComeaux]

Date: 1/28/2023

Temp - 49?

Cloud Cover: Overcast to broken clouds.

Wind Direction and Velocity: SE 10 to 15 stronger gust at times, Wind speed increased substcially later inj the morning.

Waterfowl Activity: fairly decent

Waterfowl Responsiveness: They just came but mostly didn't.

Hunters: Me, Blake and Garlynn

Birds By Species: 7 GW 1 spoonbill

1 28 2023.jpg

We had a lot of not so high flights of pintail from the north, catching the attention of a few, but they did what they do. Didn't capitalize on a few good size flocks of teal, with some that came by low with a tail wind without getting a shot off. Not as many siting to our north but still a good show. Gadwall were around but we're scared of their own shadows. Everything is picked up and we'll be headed home early in the morning to pack it away.

We made a slow close-up recon of the area to our north and found no area suitable for the pit and boat hide. I have another plan for next year, keeping the blind where it is but adding a 2 man quick set up at another location nearby that will only have decoys deployed when we hunt it. We'll see if we can make this happen.

[Rick]

Always good to have a plan. (Says a guy currently without one.)

[DComeaux]

Anyone need a birthday or special occasion cake? I don't know this place, just saw this on FB and thought I'd share.

Corpus Christi Texas
LIFESIZED Sculpted yellow Labrador retriever Cinnamon Streusel CAKE!
Paired with a chocolate drake Cinnamon Teal.
To book a sculpted cake/ wedding order for 2023-2024 visit my website sugarbellesweets.com and fill out Order Request Form. Check out the FAQ prior to submitting.
(NO SHIPPING)

326986504_1348415619225108_5801159921363983314_n.jpg

327811184_3363212750559194_2511583632221902491_n.jpg

310652034_537028081756625_7452229666681382402_n.jpg

310498871_537028125089954_6277111390704615350_n.jpg

[Anotherone]

Nice! I’d spray mine with polyurethane and stick it in the den and hope it holds up.

[Ricky Spanish]

Nice! I’d spray mine with polyurethane and stick it in the den and hope it holds up.

My grandkids would tear it apart and eat it.
It's both cool.and weird at once.
Plus you aint seen the amount of sweet ants around all my hives. They come up the drains looking for food.

[DComeaux]

First Split totals
Gadwall - 6
Green wing - 36
Blue wing - 17
Scaup - 2
Shoveler - 4
snow goose - 1

First split totals 65 ducks and 1 goose in 8 hunts- all two-man hunts - plus one DNS outing (attempt) between rain showers that had us in the blind for maybe one hour.

Second Split 4 hunts
Green Wing - 7
Scaup - 1
Shoveler - 8
Blue Wing - 3
Ruddy - 1
Gadwall- 1

Second split Total - 21

Third Split 5 hunts
Green Wing - 22
Shoveler - 6
Scaup - 1
Blue geese - 2
Third Split Total 29 ducks 2 geese


Grand Total for the season - 115 ducks, 3 geese - 15 hunts.

[Rick]

How did the rudy eat? Serious question. Most folks turn their noses up at their mention, but have seen a turn of the 20th century New Orleans market price list were they demanded some premium over most species.

[DComeaux]

How did the rudy eat? Serious question. Most folks turn their noses up at their mention, but have seen a turn of the 20th century New Orleans market price list were they demanded some premium over most species.

We haven't cooked it yet. I've mentioned before that we took a lot of those from our lease in Holy Beach years ago and I can say I have no negative memory of those being a bad tasting bird. We would refer to those as butterballs.

[Deltaman]

WOW on the dog/duck cakes Dave!!!!!!
Looks like the teal were the season's salvation this year, and know you are glad they showed up in numbers.

[DComeaux]

corrected the final, total hunt number.

First Split totals
Gadwall - 6
Green wing - 36
Blue wing - 17
Scaup - 2
Shoveler - 4
snow goose - 1

First split totals 65 ducks and 1 goose in 8 hunts- all two-man hunts - plus one DNS outing (attempt) between rain showers that had us in the blind for maybe one hour.

Second Split 4 hunts
Green Wing - 7
Scaup - 1
Shoveler - 8
Blue Wing - 3
Ruddy - 1
Gadwall- 1

Second split Total - 21

Third Split 5 hunts
Green Wing - 22
Shoveler - 6
Scaup - 1
Blue geese - 2
Third Split Total 29 ducks 2 geese


Grand Total for the season - 115 ducks, 3 geese - 17 hunts.

[DComeaux]

WOW on the dog/duck cakes Dave!!!!!!
Looks like the teal were the season's salvation this year, and know you are glad they showed up in numbers.

In our area years ago the gadwall would more than likely have been the top number on that total log, along with other big ducks. Although the green wing were always thick back then as well, we'd pass those until the "big ducks" would move later in the mornings. We don't have that option anymore. It's become first come first served.

[Rick]

Pretty sure green-wings have long topped our state's regular season kill list. Am certain I find them the most fun to gun, so I'm fine with it.

(Probably have to go back to the '90s to think of a "We don't shoot teal." party though my blinds.)

[Ducaholic]

On a good cold sunny NNE wind day shooting in to a couple of bunches of GWT early was typically a pre-lude to the other green flying later so some days we didn't load up on the little guys but shot only enough to fill a bag or two per man. Today we shoot whatever comes as quickly as they come. Things have changed and so have I.

[Deltaman]

Amen to that!!! I grew up passing on teal and bluebills, even Woodies if we were expecting Mallards in a hole or creek, but over the last 40 years that has morphed into "you'd better shoot what shows up, lest you not shoot at all.....if something shows up". What few we get now are pressured so bad, they've got nowhere to hide except in the open bay. Doesn't take them long to move on.

[Ricky Spanish]

Amen to that!!! I grew up passing on teal and bluebills, even Woodies if we were expecting Mallards in a hole or creek, but over the last 40 years that has morphed into "you'd better shoot what shows up, lest you not shoot at all.....if something shows up". What few we get now are pressured so bad, they've got nowhere to hide except in the open bay. Doesn't take them long to move on.

If I'd insisted on mallards only my first split would be pathetic. Two suzis.
Thank God for wood ducks.
If I could call teal I would try. So far they ignore me.
It's pretty rare for me to decoy a teal or two.

[DComeaux]

Pretty sure green-wings have long topped our state's regular season kill list. Am certain I find them the most fun to gun, so I'm fine with it.

(Probably have to go back to the '90s to think of a "We don't shoot teal." party though my blinds.)

On a good cold sunny NNE wind day shooting in to a couple of bunches of GWT early was typically a pre-lude to the other green flying later so some days we didn't load up on the little guys but shot only enough to fill a bag or two per man. Today we shoot whatever comes as quickly as they come. Things have changed and so have I.

The only reason we'd pass the early teal was for 1. to extend the hunt pass sunrise, and 2. by the first couple of weeks of the season we'd eaten enough teal and wanted to play with others. Seeing those birds coming from the north out of the rice later in the mornings, or off the gulf like clockwork was awesome. They would respond to calling like I knew what I was doing.

What's different now is the fact that those scene's and/or predictability are no longer. I'm still not yet adjusted to having to, or trying to take everything that fly's by close or far or go home with very few or none, and I'm not sure I ever will be, or want to be doing that. I get as much if not more pleasure from working birds as I do shooting them. That I can't, or wont let go of. I can't think of one time this year that I actually broke a flock and worked them to the decoys. The teal come in unseen, low level and just drop in. It's like the wild west. This is fun, but I'd sure like to work some big ducks again.

[Ducaholic]

Give me 2010 again and everything would be ok. But it's not and it never will be where I like to spend time chasing them. It's not like I could often kill limits of teal if I wanted to so when I say we will shoot whatever comes I mean it within reason. Example will I shoot 12 spoons no I won't. Will I shoot 12 ring necks no I won't but I will add a few of each to the bag to make a 2 man limit? You bertcha! In 2010 I would never had given it a second thought except for allowing the kids to shoot a few on a slow day.

[Ricky Spanish]

Give me 2010 again and everything would be ok. But it's not and it never will be where I like to spend time chasing them. It's not like I could often kill limits of teal if I wanted to so when I say we will shoot whatever comes I mean it within reason. Example will I shoot 12 spoons no I won't. Will I shoot 12 ring necks no I won't but I will add a few of each to the bag to make a 2 man limit? You bertcha! In 2010 I would never had given it a second thought except for allowing the kids to shoot a few on a slow day.

Oh man ....10,11, 12, and I think 13 were stellar.
I had it so good that I thought I was good at hunting mallards. Four a day and could have made piles but I was very green and scared I'd piss off the locals. At first I was afraid to shoot fearing it'd screw up nearby hunters.
Gradually I learned to pretend I'm the only one in the woods and I got good at being away from the crowd.

Poor hunting has forced me to go where I should have went back in 2010. If i knew now what was coming I'd have killed more mallards back then.

These days are humble. Extremely.
It will turn around I think but not in a way we expect.
I also think that next fall I'll be able to roll in at 530 and still claim a good hole and set up by 630.
The pressure, I mean numbers of hunters, is dropping where I go. Everywhere not just big lake.

[Ericdc]

Give me 2010 again and everything would be ok. But it's not and it never will be where I like to spend time chasing them. It's not like I could often kill limits of teal if I wanted to so when I say we will shoot whatever comes I mean it within reason. Example will I shoot 12 spoons no I won't. Will I shoot 12 ring necks no I won't but I will add a few of each to the bag to make a 2 man limit? You bertcha! In 2010 I would never had given it a second thought except for allowing the kids to shoot a few on a slow day.

I killed a lot of ducks in seasons beginning in year 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2019 & 2021.

More good than bad...hoping it stays that way in the next 10 years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ducaholic]

Give me 2010 again and everything would be ok. But it's not and it never will be where I like to spend time chasing them. It's not like I could often kill limits of teal if I wanted to so when I say we will shoot whatever comes I mean it within reason. Example will I shoot 12 spoons no I won't. Will I shoot 12 ring necks no I won't but I will add a few of each to the bag to make a 2 man limit? You bertcha! In 2010 I would never had given it a second thought except for allowing the kids to shoot a few on a slow day.

I killed a lot of ducks in seasons beginning in year 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2019 & 2021.

More good than bad...hoping it stays that way in the next 10 years


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looked at pictures I saved from 2007 through 2016. Your were in a few along with some nice straps of ducks. Hard to pin point exactly what changed other than a lack of the thick hydrilla that used to literally blanket the water of my favorite spot. And of course the limestone on the road that essentially ended our hold on as fine a duck killing spot as there was anywhere. Nothing stays the same forever they say. I know that to be very true in this instance.