Off-season duck stuff...

[Rick]

Have literal piles of projects needing done before next duck season, nearly all of which are best attended to before summer's heat and humidity talk me out of them "until it cools off" (read "indefinitely"), and am hoping charting progress will spur some.

Haven't so much as washed or patched a decoy yet, much less stripped the mallard-to-mottled conversions from last fall's badly failed Rustoleum rattle can experiment and redone them by air brush with an enamel I've more faith in. Nor have I touched some wiring issues I've been putting up with, much less tackled installing timers in the spinners. Then, too, I hope to experiment with using prop wash to blow bottom sediment up onto existing high spots in my pond to help establish "islands" of vegetation to help make my Cherry Ridge spot look more like broken marsh than a duck pond and blind.

About the only hunting related "work" I have done has been with my ADHD young dog's handling and focus, an example of the latter I've posted in a "crawfish" thread elsewhere but will again here:


Birds were in that same naturally vegetated crawfish pond cut that was left out of last year's rice rotation, to which we took a different approach this morning that the birds took more seriously - at least for a little while:

[DComeaux]

NIce work....I need a launcher

[Rick]

NIce work....I need a launcher

One make or another of hand launcher has been my favorite training partner since the ('circa 70s?) day I first launched a bumper out into the Ohio for the setter that then doubled as my duck dog. Can't imagine doing without, as it helps us train in real world terrain where bird boys can't or won't go when and wherever we wish.

Your Marceaux farm blind makes a very brief cameo at the onset of this clip of one of puppy Marsh's early "real world cover" launcher retrieves across its south cut:


Though puppy Call had no issue with blanks fired through the launcher replacing them through our NEF pistol for hand-thrown marks and would remain steady on remote sit (to protect his hearing) until released, launching a bumper triggered a wilding sprint around the general area that didn't subside until I gave up on controlling it, retrieved the bumper myself and had walked a few hundred yards on down our route through the farm. After which the mere sight of the launcher would have him cutting ruts around me.

So we've come a long way since that issue and the days when even a butterfly's passage during a launch could mean I'd get wet, if I didn't want to lose a bumper. Which is my excuse for being inordinately proud of the focus my ADHD partner is starting to develop. Far better late than never...

[DComeaux]

Video is private.

[Rick]

Oops. Fixed ("unlisted") it:

[DComeaux]

I'm ordering one, just don't tell my wife.

[Rick]

I'm ordering one, just don't tell my wife.

Pay attention to how this guy says to hold it:


Most everything else he says is, however, beyond suspect in my experience. Decades back I experimented with RRT "launcher" loads vs Ramset (and CCI etc) nail gun loads and found RRT's red "high power" loads much the same as Ramset and other readily available and appreciably cheaper hardware store yellow loads, and those yellows are all I've used since. Also don't recall how many years my RRT launcher's o-ring has been MIA, but assure you it launches fine without.

Probably doesn't launch quite as far, or recoil quite as hard, without an o-ring, but I'm getting around twice his stated distance with plastic dummies, so I'm guessing he's talking about the canvas or cordura type shown in the video. Checked the older plastic buoy version used in my videos via Google earth the other day, and it made it to a levee 120 yards out. Don't have the latest molded version in hand yet, but the first run of the current shape was breaking the 100yd mark, too, just wasn't a tough enough compound to hold up to as much use I gave them. New ones I have coming are said to be much tougher and presumably heavier, so "we'll see..."

Should note that you can always shorten their range as simply as not seating the bumper all the way down on the launcher's post. And once the bumper's been used in water and the inside of its launcher shaft tube is wet, it won't fire as far again until that tube is dry. So I carry one of the Dollar Store 1" foam paint brush thingies in my launcher/bumper bag to dry the tube when I want to shoot again soon.

[jrock75]

From the first time I ever used a Retriev-R-Trainer 15+ years ago until today, it always catches me off guard with the recoil, noise, and launching ability. Pretty amazing product.

Back in 2008 when Roux was a young pup, I lived smack dab in the middle of Dallas. There was a nice open 15 acre park not too far from my house that served as our principal training grounds once he outgrew the tiny back yard I had. It was surrounded by apartments, and the path around the perimeter was heavily utilized but I could typically carve off a football field sized area for us in the middle. We went there several times a week to do pile work, T's, etc.

I acquired a Retriev-R-Trainer to take our training to the next level and, I am not sure what I was thinking, but I had the bright idea of using it there. I had no idea how loud it was but the first time I fired that thing off, the loud sound reverberated against the surrounding apartment walls and I felt the eyes of a hundred people staring at me with a mix of fear, anger, and judgement. Needless to say, that was the first and only shot of the Retriev-R-Trainer at that park.

[Rick]

From the first time I ever used a Retriev-R-Trainer 15+ years ago until today, it always catches me off guard with the recoil, noise, and launching ability. Pretty amazing product.

Back in 2008 when Roux was a young pup, I lived smack dab in the middle of Dallas. There was a nice open 15 acre park not too far from my house that served as our principal training grounds once he outgrew the tiny back yard I had. It was surrounded by apartments, and the path around the perimeter was heavily utilized but I could typically carve off a football field sized area for us in the middle. We went there several times a week to do pile work, T's, etc.

I acquired a Retriev-R-Trainer to take our training to the next level and, I am not sure what I was thinking, but I had the bright idea of using it there. I had no idea how loud it was but the first time I fired that thing off, the loud sound reverberated against the surrounding apartment walls and I felt the eyes of a hundred people staring at me with a mix of fear, anger, and judgement. Needless to say, that was the first and only shot of the Retriev-R-Trainer at that park.

Made me smile thinking of a buddy who brought the cops down on himself using one in the field behind our small town's community center. Just wasn't thinking and wondered who the cops were after. If your park had been in Chicago, instead of Dallas, you might still be in prison.

Re: the noise and recoil, I should have noted for Dave that I don't use the launcher (or blank gun) with the dogs at my side, do hold the launcher at arm's length down next to my thigh - and (usually) wear plugs. Don't recall ever wearing gloves or finding the recoil an issue, as long as I'm mindful of where the locking latch is in relation to my wrist and holding the launcher correctly. That latch always misses fingers but can bite a wrist bone if given that chance.

[DComeaux]

From the first time I ever used a Retriev-R-Trainer 15+ years ago until today, it always catches me off guard with the recoil, noise, and launching ability. Pretty amazing product.

Back in 2008 when Roux was a young pup, I lived smack dab in the middle of Dallas. There was a nice open 15 acre park not too far from my house that served as our principal training grounds once he outgrew the tiny back yard I had. It was surrounded by apartments, and the path around the perimeter was heavily utilized but I could typically carve off a football field sized area for us in the middle. We went there several times a week to do pile work, T's, etc.

I acquired a Retriev-R-Trainer to take our training to the next level and, I am not sure what I was thinking, but I had the bright idea of using it there. I had no idea how loud it was but the first time I fired that thing off, the loud sound reverberated against the surrounding apartment walls and I felt the eyes of a hundred people staring at me with a mix of fear, anger, and judgement. Needless to say, that was the first and only shot of the Retriev-R-Trainer at that park.

Made me smile thinking of a buddy who brought the cops down on himself using one in the field behind our small town's community center. Just wasn't thinking and wondered who the cops were after. If your park had been in Chicago, instead of Dallas, you might still be in prison.

Re: the noise and recoil, I should have noted for Dave that I don't use the launcher (or blank gun) with the dogs at my side, do hold the launcher at arm's length down next to my thigh - and (usually) wear plugs. Don't recall ever wearing gloves or finding the recoil an issue, as long as I'm mindful of where the locking latch is in relation to my wrist and holding the launcher correctly. That latch always misses fingers but can bite a wrist bone if given that chance.

It's on the way.

[Rick]

Don't have the latest molded version in hand yet, but the first run of the current shape was breaking the 100yd mark, too, just wasn't a tough enough compound to hold up to as much use I gave them. New ones I have coming are said to be much tougher and presumably heavier, so "we'll see..."

Current version of RRT molded plastic bumpers have arrived, and the compound does feel appreciably firmer than those that were breaking up. Initially had what appeared plugs of that compound inside their aluminum sleeves that prevented seating them fully down the launcher's shaft and limited their first flights. But those apparent remnants of the manufacturing process blew out with their first firing, after which the new molded bumpers powered by yellow Ramset charges flew the same roughly 110yds (in relation to a levee Google Earth-measured to be 120yds out) I'd come to expect from RRTs previous molded versions.

Re: potential longevity, i can only say "so far, so good". Marsh, who wasn't a hard-mouthed dog, would sometimes puncture the surface of the last molded bumpers we had when straining against deep driving water and/or surprised by deep ruts beneath it. And Call didn't leave a mark during our four test retrieves in a badly rutted and deeply flooded cut. Encouraging, but "we'll see..."

[DComeaux]

I should have a package waiting for me at home today. Anxious to try it out.

[Rick]

Might want to help acclimate her to it with short launches facilitated by only seating the bumper part way down the launcher's shaft. I didn't think to do so with Call's first, and though I did use a canvas bumper with inherently shorter and easier to see flight, it still hit his crazy button.

[DComeaux]

We tried it together yesterday evening at full draw. We had been working on long blinds for some time now and she marked these shots with no issue. I think I'll wear a going forward.

[Rick]

We tried it together yesterday evening at full draw. We had been working on long blinds for some time now and she marked these shots with no issue. I think I'll wear a going forward.

Since you're going to wear it, I'm guessing the missing word(s) is either "hearing protection" or "glove". Which if the latter, makes me wonder how heavy your charges are or if your bumper is heavy enough to produce appreciably more recoil? For which I'd prescribe less time in the office and more time crabbing.

[Rick]

Spring has sprung. Crawfishermen have switched from fish to artificial bait, spent much of yesterday restocking marsh with farm release gators and teal and spoons are the only OOS waterfowl still hanging around.

[DComeaux]

We tried it together yesterday evening at full draw. We had been working on long blinds for some time now and she marked these shots with no issue. I think I'll wear a going forward.

Since you're going to wear it, I'm guessing the missing word(s) is either "hearing protection" or "glove". Which if the latter, makes me wonder how heavy your charges are or if your bumper is heavy enough to produce appreciably more recoil? For which I'd prescribe less time in the office and more time crabbing.

Glove. Office hands may blister from the rough grip recoil. Using the yellow loads.

In the not-too-distant future I'll have way more time for crabbing and other great outdoor activities.

[jrock75]

Spring has sprung. Crawfishermen have switched from fish to artificial bait, spent much of yesterday restocking marsh with farm release gators and teal and spoons are the only OOS waterfowl still hanging around.

Same for us. Nothing but teal and spoons left.

[Rick]

The neighboring farms where we've been making most of our morning exercise/training rounds have never been great teal attractions, so we've been counting ourselves lucky to see a few and even avoiding disturbing the big pickleweed cut seen in the above videos, so as not to run off those using it. But yesterday may well have been the biggest show of teal we've ever seen over those farms: not clouds or swarms, but several nice bunches working over the flooded portions, so a major migratory move may be afoot. Makes me anxious to get back out there in a bit.

Call's education has been going about as well as a, hopefully, recovering ADHD pup's can. Better than expected, knock wood, but not without stumbles. Worked him up to marking mixed hand-thrown and launched quads over and around interesting factors with surprising ease - until making the last mark of those sets an in-yo-face, skipping "erasure". Thought getting past that was going to cost a launcher bumper. And long launched "in-lines" still, often as not, requiring some degree of handling, even as just doubles.

Meanwhile, my decoy projects linger, mostly untouched. Haven't gotten past beefing up most, but not even all, of my electronic connections, let alone more time consuming decoy improvements.

[Darren]

Good many blue wings buzzing around Lake Borgne/Shell Beach. Habitats I saw some in were plainly that of birds taking a rest in transit, not using the habitat for a daily pattern.

[Rick]

Found but four for-sure blue-wings, a flight of three and a single, where there had been so many yesterday. Well, plus five more-likely woodies too early and far out for certainty.