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Date: 12/15/2023 First weekend of the second split.

Hunters: Me and Garlynn

Cloud Cover: Clear with clouds over the gulf

Wind Direction and Velocity: NE 10 to 15

Temperature: Mid 50's ?

Waterfowl Activity: Nothing around

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Birds By Species: 1 GW teal

Photo Ops:

Nothing much seen this morning, and this was the reports from everyone we spoke with. Heard very few shots. The hunt in the morning is highly dependent on what I see on the radar at 5 AM. Randall hunted solo and got his 6. He capitalized on two flocks of teal and took one (might as well) spoonbill from a working flock.

I took Ellie to the blind this morning and at her age I was pleasantly surprised at her demeanor and the retrieve attempt on the teal. The wind pushed it beyond her current vision range, but she never gave up. The hard bottom really helps. That made my hunt.

Glad you got to see the ole gal give it another go Dave! I’d give a lot to see mine go after another one.

Beyond remarkable that she's still living, much less getting some work in. Good on the both of you.

Know you can use this morning's predicted heavy rain, but it's timing might be better. Wunderground has it passing through at prime time.

"that made my hunt" I understand, completely...

Date: 12/17/2023

Hunters: Me and Garlynn

Cloud Cover: Clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: NW Brisk and chilly

Temperature: Mid to upper 40's ?

Waterfowl Activity: A few more seen than Friday.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Birds By Species: 2 GW teal 1 gadwall

We did not hunt yesterday. Very little activity around us but more shooting heard this morning. We could hear the shots from the well managed place to our west, so I sent a text to one of my camp neighbors asking if it was them making all of the noise. The reply was "our lease" followed by a strap photo hanging in the blind with just a couple left to fill. This was early this morning. They have the same issue as us this year, no feed due to salt water and the drought, so I think a lot of their birds have imprinted on that place over the years. We get to see a lot of their fleeing flocks climbing east bound for the refuge. We'll get our day in the near future.

Ellie seemed to enjoy her day at the blind again this morning, but her days of retrieving are well behind her. She did surprise me with a teal that Garlynn had hit but continued on low level. We lost sight of it and took it as a lost bird. I dropped the gadwall sometime later which she didn't or couldn't see fall and when I sent her out, she turned north and headed to where she apparently saw the teal take the hit. See was birdy as she headed further northwest, so I left the blind to follow her. (The hard bottom for now is so nice) About hundred yards or so from the blind her head appeared from the thick grass while entering a pond and she had a teal in her mouth. I had a big smile on my face.


My old mutt.


Still looking for the birds.

That put a smile on my face too!

you sir are so lucky to have such a beautiful girl still able to tag along

Good girl.

Great stuff, DC. So much more to the hunts this year than bulk of straps.....and good thing, it's been rough for many.

Happy you were able to get your gal in the marsh, and your post left me with a large smile on my face!

Date: 12/23/2023 Firs

Hunters: Me and Bill

Cloud Cover: partly cloudy to overcast later.

Wind Direction and Velocity: ESE 10 to 15 ripping now

Temperature: upper 50's ?

Waterfowl Activity: Nothing around

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Birds By Species: Nothing

Photo Ops

Didn't even think of shooting. No birds around and very little shooting heard. Most who were to hunt in the morning have gone home, and Bill and I are now in a ghost town. We'll have to watch the timing of the weather in the morning. I will not get wet for this.

Seemed like fair fewer trucks at the gas station and at the barn for a Saturday than I’d have expected today. Probably many just aren’t killing right now, and I’m sure even fewer go tomorrow. From model runs I’d seen, rain should get going on you tonight and will be a while before it lets up….so if ya need water….

(And our field could use it, but doesn’t mean I gotta go sit and get wet to watch it)

Date: 12/30/2023

Hunters: Me and Bill

Cloud Cover: Mostly clear with high clouds

Wind Direction and Velocity: NW light

Temperature: 38

Waterfowl Activity: Nothing around

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Birds By Species: 1 GW (band)

Photo Ops

Pitiful out there. No birds for anyone.



Band Information

INFORMATION FROM OUR FILES:
Species: Green-winged Teal
Date banded: 02/19/2023
Banding Location: NEAR GRAND CHENIER, CAMERON PARISH, LOUISIANA, USA
Age: HATCHED IN 2022 OR EARLIER
Sex: FEMALE

Date: 12/31/2023

Hunters: Me and Bill

Cloud Cover: Mostly clear with high clouds

Wind Direction and Velocity: SE light

Temperature: Lower 40's

Waterfowl Activity: Nothing around

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Birds By Species: 1 GW

Photo Ops

Same as yesterday...No Ducks. I hope some start to show up from their tropical vacation across the pond.

I mean if you’re gonna shoot one, might as well make it count!

If he'd come join the party more often, it might have been one he helped band. Paul's moved that GC site up onto the big levee, where you could pull birds in Crocs. No more watery death march, just have to wait for the deer to get off the bait before shooting the net.

Rick wrote:If he'd come join the party more often, it might have been one he helped band. Paul's moved that GC site up onto the big levee, where you could pull birds in Crocs. No more watery death march, just have to wait for the deer to get off the bait before shooting the net.

Once I retire, I may be able to make the weekday parties. I'm shooting for 3 years and a few months from today.

Just pickin'.

Today is the day. I'm picking my little pup up this afternoon. Perfect timing, as I'm also headed to the camp and will leave her with the wife for the first weekend...lol

Fun times Dave!

Also, sounds like your wife is in line for sainthood in the afterlife.

Bold move, Dave.

Duck Engr wrote:Also, sounds like your wife is in line for sainthood in the afterlife.

You must be assuming she's not going to usher him into the afterlife upon his return.

Here's Remi!

I'm Looking forward to our time together. I'm going to introduce her to Ellie tomorrow to see if I get the sniff of approval.

The grandkids wore her out when we got home, and she slept for a couple of hours. She is now fully awake. It may be a long night.

Pleased to meet you, Remi...

Couple pretty little gals there.

Sweet little critters there! Enjoy

Congrats on your new addition Dave, and we are looking forward watching him grow up with you!
On a different note, how is Blake's recovery coming along?

Deltaman wrote:Congrats on your new addition Dave, and we are looking forward watching him grow up with you!
On a different note, how is Blake's recovery coming along?

Blake is back at work today, first day back. He'll be at the camp with me this weekend. No hunting for him this weekend, though. He has wounds that are still healing and that bacteria water in the marsh is a killer.

Thanks for the update I was thinking about Blake on the drive home yesterday... Glad things are getting somewhat back to normal...

Glad to hear it Dave, and sounds like you're gonna have to relegate him to kitchen duty/beer drinking detail this weekend