Teal Season
Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2023 3:58 pmDate: September 9
Time: Morning
Location: Rolltop blind (rice field)
Weather: Thought we were going to sit at the lodge and get a late start as the lightning too scary for me to go out in but the storm seemed to dissipate right as we needed to leave to make it to the blind by shooting time. 5-10 NW wind turned to E after sunup. Light drizzle for a few minutes. Pretty pleasant morning all things considered.
Special Notes: Grant's first hunt with his new youth model 20 gauge. Upgraded from the .410 he used last year
Waterfowl Activity: Amazing amount of teal. We flushed thousands on the drive down the levee to the blind and they steadily returned after sunup. We never had a 30 second window when there were not birds working the hole.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: As you always hope the opener goes. They were trying to land everywhere.
Hunters: 3 me, Grant, and David
Malfunctions: Neighboring blind's marsh master wouldn't start so they came and took our track ranger leaving us to either call and wait on them to come pick us up or walk out of the field where the wheel ranger they left us sat. We chose to walk and got all the exercise we ever wanted. Need to get the levee cleared and smashed down this week so that we don't have to walk out through the stubble rolled clay.
Dog(s): Left Jake (new dog 1 year-old) at home to focus on helping Grant. Excited to get him out in the field though as his training is going really well.
Special Equipment: 3 Mojos
Kudos: Grant shot his first limit and was super pumped! Last year he shot one teal off the water and then became timid if we had other hunters in the blind.
Curses: Poor David couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but provided comic relief when the 9 year old limited before him and he continued to miss after while he was the only one firing.
Birds By Species: 18 BWT
Lagniappe: I was done shooting in 15 minutes and was able to focus on helping Grant. With Grant now an active, learning gunner plus a new dog, I envision my shooting will be more limited than in the past and I am 100% ok with that.
Photo Ops:
Time: Morning
Location: Rolltop blind (rice field)
Weather: Thought we were going to sit at the lodge and get a late start as the lightning too scary for me to go out in but the storm seemed to dissipate right as we needed to leave to make it to the blind by shooting time. 5-10 NW wind turned to E after sunup. Light drizzle for a few minutes. Pretty pleasant morning all things considered.
Special Notes: Grant's first hunt with his new youth model 20 gauge. Upgraded from the .410 he used last year
Waterfowl Activity: Amazing amount of teal. We flushed thousands on the drive down the levee to the blind and they steadily returned after sunup. We never had a 30 second window when there were not birds working the hole.
Waterfowl Responsiveness: As you always hope the opener goes. They were trying to land everywhere.
Hunters: 3 me, Grant, and David
Malfunctions: Neighboring blind's marsh master wouldn't start so they came and took our track ranger leaving us to either call and wait on them to come pick us up or walk out of the field where the wheel ranger they left us sat. We chose to walk and got all the exercise we ever wanted. Need to get the levee cleared and smashed down this week so that we don't have to walk out through the stubble rolled clay.
Dog(s): Left Jake (new dog 1 year-old) at home to focus on helping Grant. Excited to get him out in the field though as his training is going really well.
Special Equipment: 3 Mojos
Kudos: Grant shot his first limit and was super pumped! Last year he shot one teal off the water and then became timid if we had other hunters in the blind.
Curses: Poor David couldn't hit the broad side of a barn but provided comic relief when the 9 year old limited before him and he continued to miss after while he was the only one firing.
Birds By Species: 18 BWT
Lagniappe: I was done shooting in 15 minutes and was able to focus on helping Grant. With Grant now an active, learning gunner plus a new dog, I envision my shooting will be more limited than in the past and I am 100% ok with that.
Photo Ops:
