2022 2023 Season Log

[DComeaux]

Date: 9/10/2022 Opening Day -Teal Season

Cloud Cover: Mostly Clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: Light NE

Temperature: Lower 70's?

Moon phase: Big bright Harvest Moon

Waterfowl Activity: Very few high flocks

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Nothing to work

Hunters: Bennett and Bill

Birds By Species: DNS

Photo Ops: All I have is a sunrise picture

Very few high flocks coming from the north. Nothing low and local. The NE wind was nice and cool until the sun climbed a bit. Randall's crew scratched as well. Very little shooting in the area, with results same as us or one and two bag reports from the area. Next door neighbor took 10 but lost 3 to gators. They hunt a few miles east and north of us in the "fresh" marsh.

[DComeaux]

Date: 9/11/2022

Cloud Cover: Mostly Clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: Light NW turning more northly later in the morning

Temperature: Lower 75

Moon phase: Big bright Harvest Moon, again

Waterfowl Activity: Very few seen

Waterfowl Responsiveness: What was low listened well to the call. It's so nice to get a surprise buzz-by and watch them turn hard to the call.

Hunters: Bill

Birds By Species: 7 Blue wing

Photo Ops: Bill with the birds. We're parking in our uncovered boat hide for teal season. I'm not going to put in the effort to cover it before the hurricane threat is gone. Today it didn't seem to bother them as they came right over it on approach in the NW wind we had. I did shove a few roseau in the mud along the south and most open side.

9 11 2022.jpg

What worked fell, which was nice. I whiffed on one three times that crossed low overhead heading east right into the sun. My last shot was a hail Mary, don't come back shot. I was standing on the seat with Bill ejecting shells from his gun readying to leave around 9:20 when three came just outside of the decoys (CLOSE) very low, and all we could do is watch them continue on to the north.

Came back to add my mottled fun today. I worked and played with a pair, and the other was a group of 5 which circled just overhead a few times, returning each time I'd call. They were so low and beautiful, with the morning sun illuminating their dark plumage.

[Rick]

Sure glad to hear it picked up some. Hope to learn the same from Darren.

[DComeaux]

Date: 9/17/2022

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: ENE Light to moderate

Temperature: Lower mid 70's

Moon phase: didn't notice

Waterfowl Activity: What we saw was the majority of what we shot.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: They just appeared over the decoys.

Hunters: Blake

Birds By Species: 4 BW (3 adult males 1 immature female)

Photo Ops: Blake with the birds

9 17 2022.jpg

[DComeaux]

Date: 9/18/2022

Cloud Cover: few high clouds

Wind Direction and Velocity: ENE Light to moderate

Temperature: Hot

Moon phase: didn't notice

Waterfowl Activity: Very few seen. Few high flocks coming from the north.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Hunters: Blake

Birds By Species: DNS

Photo Ops:

Randall hunted alone this morning and took 5. They came to him as pairs and singles, We did have a few singles and pairs pass by wide but wanted nothing to do with us,
Don't order teal from Rick Hall. He's doesn't deliver.

[Rick]

Don't order teal from Rick Hall. He's doesn't deliver.

Pick-up only. Gave my six to an ex-game warden friend this morning, but he had to come by the house to get 'em.

[DComeaux]

Where I want to be.

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[DComeaux]

I've been running the GFS model daily for a week now watching the one hurricane it forms bringing it into the gulf. I've watched a more westward progression develop before turning north, which is not good for us.
The the Atlantic satellite loop of this area now does not look very impressive and is being termed an area of disturbed weather. I hope the model is wrong.

GFS model run. Hit the play button. Notice the dates at the top.
https://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysi ... 92112&fh=6

This is the latest satellite loop of that same area. Just hit the play button.
https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/GOES/s ... &length=24

[Darren]

Couple of things:

1.) Dont follow the GFS single runs like you're showing, as Gospel. It's really about the ensembles that compile a whole host of scenarios and inputs to create an "average" path. see below

2.) GFS has done really poorly this year so far, need to put more stock into where the Euro model overlaps the GFS, IF if it does, often has not, and the Euro has performed better. This morning the ensembles for both of those were pretty well in line with one another. With no actual formed storm, the models are going to continue to be all over the place, sooooooooo so hang tight but be watchful.

map.jpg

[Duck Engr]

Darren beat me to it. GFS has been poopoo this year. EURO threw a strong south Florida hit and another strong Carolina hit this morning. That’d be something.

[DComeaux]

I am aware of all mentioned. I Just wanted a dramatic affect, like most local weather personalities. It's still too damn close for comfort.

Wanted to add that spaghetti models aren't very accurate until you have a sold formation.

[Darren]

Told ya "hang tight" the other day.....

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And on top of that (and the reason why that curve):

Capture.JPG

[Anotherone]

I feel mo better now. Take cover Florida.

[DComeaux]

Told ya "hang tight" the other day.....

308546450_644811940335480_748202350277329927_n.jpg

308420180_644870150329659_7997419747195714853_n.jpg

And on top of that (and the reason why that curve):

Capture.JPG

I've been following this daily and looking at all info I could get from various models. It took a while for the GFS to pick up on the approaching front while the others did early on. The GFS had it plowing through the frontal line.

[DComeaux]

Randall and Mike hunted this morning in his blind and DNS. Said he saw one teal all morning.

Blake and I will go sit in the blind for a bit in the morning then pick up decoys and head out. We hope to have the screened kitchen area completed with the marine vinyl panels installed before the season begins in November. Still a work in progress.

[DComeaux]

The airboat ride at the beginning of this video I would hear from the camp and blind.

[Duck Engr]

The airboat ride at the beginning of this video I would hear from the camp and blind.

Just finished watching that. Pretty neat series.

[DComeaux]

Date: 9/24/2022

Cloud Cover: few high clouds

Wind Direction and Velocity: nothing to very light NW

Temperature: Hot as heck

Moon phase: dark

Waterfowl Activity: A few buzzing around low this morning but still not much seen.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Good

Hunters: Blake

Birds By Species: 5 BW 1 GW

Photo Ops: Took this after we picked up the decoys and had grabbed the guns and bags from the blind.

20220924_085521 (1).jpg

Everything flew before 8 M. We started picking up decoys at 8:30. Blake and I were soaking wet from sweat when we got back to the truck. The air was still, and it felt like a sauna. Mix reports from the area with some seeing "thousands" and finishing in the first 20 minutes after LST. Looking forward to the regular season.

[Deltaman]

Glad y'all killed some birds Dave! Time to catch a few crabs and shrimp to prime you for the afternoon siesta!!!!!!

[Darren]

Dave, for the big season's interests, what your feed situation lookin like?

[DComeaux]

Dave, for the big season's interests, what your feed situation lookin like?

Unless I throw out a few thousand pounds of corn I see nothing to offer but crabs and mullet.

Although we did notice a fine green long haired algae or plant that had grown onto every decoy. Something we haven't seen before. It was firmly rooted to each and we could not get it off. It would tear leaving a mess of it on the decoy.

We were wondering if maybe the salinity had dropped in those ponds with the restoration work between us and the gulf. Each decoy had a butt load of tiny shrimp hanging under it in that long green skirt. Blake did ask if I thought the ducks would eat it, and told him I wasn't sure. It did look like food in gizzards I had seen before.

[DComeaux]

After a bit of research the green plant motioned above that we found on the decoys may be early growth widgeon grass.

[Ducaholic]

After a bit of research the green plant motioned above that we found on the decoys may be early growth widgeon grass.

Like!

[Darren]

Yea that would be the ticket for sure, hope the remaining growing season does you right.

And who could pass on those crabs and mullet!?? (and apparently little shrimp)

[DComeaux]

Trey Iles
(225) 765-5115
riles@wlf.la.gov

For Immediate Release
Sept. 28, 2022



With hunting season under way, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind hunters and the public to take care in handling and preparing harvested wildlife.
Hunters and the public should also be aware of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu. This flu has not been discovered in Louisiana this year but has been reported in 46 states, including Texas and Mississippi. LDWF routinely investigates reports of sick or dead bird events if large numbers are impacted.
While the virus presents a low risk to humans, it is important to avoid contact with sick birds and be mindful that virus may also be transported by your hunting equipment. If you hunt waterfowl or have backyard poultry, plan for added biosecurity measures. (http://www.bah.state.mn.us/media/HPAI-N ... -Final.pdf).
Some general safety guidelines for hunters and others handling wildlife and their tissues include:
• Do not handle or eat sick game.
• Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• Wear rubber or disposable nitrile gloves while handling and cleaning game.
• When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant and clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that were exposed to game with hot soapy water and a 10% bleach solution.
• Do not eat, drink or consume tobacco products while handling animals.
• All game should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds.
• Waterfowl hunters should adhere to these guidelines
Some protective actions around birds to follow include:
• As a general rule, people should avoid wild birds and observe them only from a distance.
• Avoid contact with domestic birds (poultry) that appear ill or have died.
• People who work with poultry and wild birds should receive the annual influenza (flu) vaccine. This action reduces the potential for genetic changes in avian influenza that may render the virus more apt to infect people, thus increasing the potential of pandemic influenza.
For more information, contact LDWF State Veterinarian Dr. James LaCour at jlacour@wlf.la.gov or LDWF Assistant State Veterinarian Dr. Rusty Berry at rberry@wlf.la.gov.

[Darren]

Trey Iles
(225) 765-5115
riles@wlf.la.gov

For Immediate Release
Sept. 28, 2022

• Do not eat, drink or consume tobacco products while handling animals.

Whoa whoa whoa, you saying we can't drink beer while cleaning birds post-hunt? Unlikely.

[Ricky Spanish]

Trey Iles
(225) 765-5115
riles@wlf.la.gov

For Immediate Release
Sept. 28, 2022



With hunting season under way, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind hunters and the public to take care in handling and preparing harvested wildlife.
Hunters and the public should also be aware of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or bird flu. This flu has not been discovered in Louisiana this year but has been reported in 46 states, including Texas and Mississippi. LDWF routinely investigates reports of sick or dead bird events if large numbers are impacted.
While the virus presents a low risk to humans, it is important to avoid contact with sick birds and be mindful that virus may also be transported by your hunting equipment. If you hunt waterfowl or have backyard poultry, plan for added biosecurity measures. (http://www.bah.state.mn.us/media/HPAI-N ... -Final.pdf).
Some general safety guidelines for hunters and others handling wildlife and their tissues include:
• Do not handle or eat sick game.
• Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
• Wear rubber or disposable nitrile gloves while handling and cleaning game.
• When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant and clean knives, equipment, and surfaces that were exposed to game with hot soapy water and a 10% bleach solution.
• Do not eat, drink or consume tobacco products while handling animals.
• All game should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Avoid contact with surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from wild or domestic birds.
• People who work with poultry and wild birds should receive the annual influenza (flu) vaccine. This action reduces the potential for genetic changes in avian influenza that may render the virus more apt to infect people, thus increasing the potential of pandemic influenza.

Biosecurity?
They're worried about me crossing bats with quail er something will trigger another global pandemic "just in time for the midterms "? Sigh.
I'm trying.
Flu shot glue shot I hate meat loat.

[DComeaux]

Amazing to see their Journey. This is awesome!!

One of my female pintails from Rockefeller (1Feb2022) that had been offline for several months checked in over the weekend. I knew this occasionally happens…but to see a track from a bird I held in my hands…

Pintail.png

There’s so much to unpack here I’ll surely be pouring over this data for a sleepless night or 2, but I had to see where she stopped to refuel on a couple of these monstrous flights. This one jumped out at me though. After a trans-Alaskan Gulf flight of over 2,200 miles that appears to be non-stop, she settled into a concrete retention pond on a state prison property in northern California. Wow.

Pintail 2.jpg

[Ricky Spanish]

Tracked a hen mallard that was geo-collared in Arkansas by agfc.
It stopped at Chataqua National Wildlife Refuge.
Stayed there for two years feeding off various farms in that area. Very strange bird.

[Duck Engr]

Wow DC that is incredible! With as dry as it is in California I guess she wasn’t too picky on where she sat down for a rest.

Can’t have your ducks over there canoodling with the Russians though.