Season Log 2024-2025

[Rick]

Date: 1/31 Fri

Time: morning

Location: #3

Cloud Cover: cloudy to clearing

Wind Direction and Velocity: SW moderate to strong

Temperature: warm

Moon phase: waxing 6%

Special Notes: last day of the regular season

Waterfowl Activity: Little of this and that, but not much of anything. Didn't see black-bellies within hailing until late in the morning, which seemed odd for a westerly wind.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Thankfully good.

Hunters: 2, Scott from yesterday and Shawn

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Call's on a roll.

Special Equipment:

Curses: We were last in, again, but given the givens, I'm not kicking.

Kudos: Great guys passed a big time.

Birds By Species: 9 black-bellies, 1 blue-wing, 1 gadwall, 2 green-wings, 3 pintails, 1 ringneck and 1 shoveller

[DComeaux]

Nice strap to end the season.

[Rick]

Date: 2/1/25 Sat

Time: morning

Location: #3

Cloud Cover:

Wind Direction and Velocity: se calm to light

Temperature: 40s to hot

Moon phase: sliver

Special Notes: veterans hunt

Waterfowl Activity: Saw more mallards than any day prior. Not "a lot" but more. (And bumfuzzled most of them with miscues.)

Waterfowl Responsiveness: thankfully good

Hunters: 2, SIL, Tim, and gator stuff workmate, JJ

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Call remains on a roll, albeit getting vocal in the boat when going after long fly-offs, which he's death on.

Special Equipment: spinners more off than on

Curses: Just our miscommunications. Well, and our accuracy.

Kudos: Had a blast, as I could rib these guys more than I can camp guests.

Birds By Species: 4 black-bellies, 3 green-wings, 2 mallards, 1 mottled and 1 ringneck

[Duck Engr]

I also think having the seasons uniform across most of the flyway would be beneficial. Obviously there is a limit to this for the far north, but Illinois south. Having our first half and second half the same as Louisiana would work out pretty well.

As is, birds that head south are hunted practically nonstop from early September until late January. What do you think is going to happen to that part of the population over a couple decades? Compare that with the part of the population that winters as far north as they can. They are hunted nonstop from early September until mid December in a warm year and late December in cold year. They are hunt a month less and on top of that in areas with a far lower density of hunters. What do you think is going to happen to that part of the population over a couple of decades relative to their brethren that venture far to the south?

.

100% agree with this. Start northern seasons later. Allow some photo migrators to do so without hearing a gunshot.

[Ducaholic]

As is, birds that head south are hunted practically nonstop from early September until late January. What do you think is going to [b]happen to that part of the population over a couple decades? Compare that with the part of the population that winters as far north as they can. They are hunted nonstop from early September until mid December in a warm year and late December in cold year. [b]They are hunt a month less and on top of that in areas with a far lower density of hunters. What do you think is going to happen to that part of the population over a couple of decades relative to their brethren that venture far to the south?[/b][/b]

I think the decades of a 60 day season is a major driver in the population shifts. Those that wonder south get shot up longer. Those that roam around as opposed to remain steadfast to their refuges get shot up more. Stay north or stay in the refuge and you will live longer and have more babies. Go south and wonder around the landscape and you are more likely to end up on the dinner table and have less babies.

On top of that, there has been a whole lot of wetlands improvement and construction up north over the last few decades as compared to the wetlands draining and destruction that was so prevalent generations ago. There's one that I drive by almost every day. When I first moved hear in 2002. It was just a big patch of impenetrable phragmites. About 15 years ago, they did a restoration and now it's about 200 acres of prime waterfowl habitat that holds a lot of waterfowl until it freezes solid. These projects are all over the place as well as retention ponds everywhere. They extended one section of the interstate. It is lined with retention ponds that hold a lot of ducks as well. When they freeze, I can go over to the river that never freezes and it is wall to wall ducks as far as you can see up and down the river because you can't hunt in that area.

Preach! Quite simply we don't have near the birds we did in 2000 and more than enough diversified habitat north of I-40 to sustain most of what used to migrate to La. all winter long. It's really not that complicated. Add in diminishing pressure as the season wears on in states to our north and its really easy to see why birds are staying further north.

What's troubling is the population decline because the stock that's staying further north is not producing enough ducks to keep the Miss Flyway populated with fowl the way is used to be.

[Ducaholic]

I also think having the seasons uniform across most of the flyway would be beneficial. Obviously there is a limit to this for the far north, but Illinois south. Having our first half and second half the same as Louisiana would work out pretty well.

As is, birds that head south are hunted practically nonstop from early September until late January. What do you think is going to happen to that part of the population over a couple decades? Compare that with the part of the population that winters as far north as they can. They are hunted nonstop from early September until mid December in a warm year and late December in cold year. They are hunt a month less and on top of that in areas with a far lower density of hunters. What do you think is going to happen to that part of the population over a couple of decades relative to their brethren that venture far to the south?

.

100% agree with this. Start northern seasons later. Allow some photo migrators to do so without hearing a gunshot.

You guys do realize you are in the minority I would think.

[Rick]

Date: 2/2/25 Sun

Time: morning

Location: #3

Cloud Cover: ground for a good while, even had a fog-bow, then clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: calm to light SE

Temperature: 50s warming fast

Moon phase: sliver

Special Notes: Last veteran's day and end of 2024-2025

Waterfowl Activity: Just a few black-bellies seen in the fog, but some teal and a few big ducks moved later.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Couple mallards that appeared to have gone stale on the MVP bought into my switch to the Singleton.

Hunters: 2, Tim and JJ again

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Call had an easy morning

Special Equipment:

Curses: none

Kudos: Fewer miscues and the guys both shot well. Sweet morning.

Birds By Species: 8 black-bellies, 6 green-wings, 2 mallards and 2 ringnecks

[Duck Engr]

I could certainly think of worse ways to end it! Thanks for the ride, Rick.

[Duck Engr]

I also think having the seasons uniform across most of the flyway would be beneficial. Obviously there is a limit to this for the far north, but Illinois south. Having our first half and second half the same as Louisiana would work out pretty well.

As is, birds that head south are hunted practically nonstop from early September until late January. What do you think is going to happen to that part of the population over a couple decades? Compare that with the part of the population that winters as far north as they can. They are hunted nonstop from early September until mid December in a warm year and late December in cold year. They are hunt a month less and on top of that in areas with a far lower density of hunters. What do you think is going to happen to that part of the population over a couple of decades relative to their brethren that venture far to the south?

.

100% agree with this. Start northern seasons later. Allow some photo migrators to do so without hearing a gunshot.

You guys do realize you are in the minority I would think.

Wouldn’t surprise me at all. A lot of money at stake and society seems to have a lot of “I want it all right now” attitudes. Wouldn’t expect duck hunter’s to be any different. I don’t have a gauge of where I would fall in the waterfowler public opinion spectrum, as this forum is about as social as I get about ducks.

[Rick]

Adendum 2/2: i black-belly was banded near Grand Chenier 4/27/24

[Rick]

I could certainly think of worse ways to end it! Thanks for the ride, Rick.

Was a most pleasant morning. Thanks for coming along.

[Rick]

Date: 2024-2025 season

Location: When bumped up to full-time, #3 was my choice of the two open blinds on the far (east) end of the marsh from where I was a bother to the boss last season. In the "way back when..." Percy David leased the marsh and ran a camp there, it was "Percy's blind," then became "Nanette's blind" when she, the owner, decided to run her own camp. But I prefer it's boathouse designation of #3. (Our sign actually still reads "#3 Daniel," which I tell my folks is the biblical spelling of "Rick".) Obviously, #3 has lost much its production luster over the years, or it wouldn't have been an option for the new guy, but there are reasons I feel blessed that it fell to me, rather than any of the other more productive spots, save Clark's.

Waterfowl Activity: Perhaps like my old "mudhole," it's hard not to think of #3 as a big duck blind by default, because most of the marsh's little duck traffic misses it, and it's surrounded by canouche/paille fine/maiden cane the squealers don't wish to land in. Not that we've escaped our region's big duck drought.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Was disappointed with the percentage of teal I've been able to turn our way, much less finish, and blame it on the draw of the body/refuge, but that could just be an excuse for not getting on them harder. Have also noted that barring fog to confuse them, the night-feeding squealers coming into the marsh near me when the wind's right are mostly immune to my whistle and become more susceptible as the morning wears on and they begin moving out of crowed locations. Experimented more than ever with my LA Cut Singleton and found its harsh, barking burr could have more leverage with the ringnecks that only sometimes pass my spot in numbers than the MVP's, as well as being the ticket for some big ducks, though, at least to date. not pintails. Leaned on one MVP or the other most of the time and settled on the one Butch modified.

Hunters: Feel blessed to have carried such a pleasant group of hunters with precious few sour ones in the lot.

Dog(s): Call's first season report card was a mix of As and Fs. Our summer of successfully calling him off momma squealers doing their wounded bird routines went down the tubes when he learned he could catch chipped crips - whether I was trying to call him off or not. And after a frighteningly, and never-mind embarrassingly, long chase of he after a crip that could still fly some and me in a boat trying to stay in contact through too-shallow marsh, where I most fortunately eventually cut him off before losing him altogether, he became an e-collar dog for a while. The flip-side being he's death's shadow on birds making it to the grass. Oddly, and most thankfully, for my ADHD pup, he's calm as can be in the boathouse when our hunters are pouring in and the blind when ducks are. Still doesn't handle as well in water as on land, but ended up much more boon than bane.

Curses: Lack of respect for the birds' eyesight remains the top of the list. But a new one is how much the CR blinds all (but Clark's) look like brush piles in the middle of open water - ie; places that blow up on birds that fly too close to an open water brush pile. Mine at least had some lesser "islands" of growth until weather beat them down this year, but that may have only been due to the drought. Need to find a way to augment such spots to help make the blind less conspicuously that.

Kudos: Absolutely blessed to have found a home with one of the few remaining camps that aren't struggling or worse.

Birds By Species: Wouldn't be surprised to learn that my numbers are the lowest of our full-time guides, as I lack the others' ready teal and/or squealer access. But I'm certain we led the camp with mallards and, likely, grays and pintails, as well - likely in no small part because we lacked the others' teal and squealers. Was first back to the boathouse just once and most often last or nearly so. While the species composition of our bag was generally disheartening compared to years gone by, at least we had game.

[Deltaman]

Thanks for the log again this year Rick
I'm glad that your new home in CR is working out for the better, and always enjoy hearing of Call's progress.
Do you ever get any reports from your old camp, Doug's?

[Rick]

Thanks for the log again this year Rick
I'm glad that your new home in CR is working out for the better, and always enjoy hearing of Call's progress.
Do you ever get any reports from your old camp, Doug's?

Between Doug's death and loss of that marsh, Doug's is no more.

[Ducaholic]

Thanks for the log again this year Rick
I'm glad that your new home in CR is working out for the better, and always enjoy hearing of Call's progress.
Do you ever get any reports from your old camp, Doug's?

Between Doug's death and loss of that marsh, Doug's is no more.

Was the land sold or leased?

[Deltaman]

Damn Rick, I hate to hear that, and can only imagine how you feel about it. I figured the guy that was avoiding you at Doug's funeral had taken over control of it.

[Rick]

Was the land sold or leased?

Pretty sure those 1,300 marsh acres could still be yours for $4.6 million, but you'd still have to deal with the fellow who took control of the land access after his father's death, which has queered any possible sales to date, as well a leasing possibilities. Is my understanding he'll not grant access to anyone but his current employers, who apparently got crosswise with the marsh estate's executor. Marsh was hunted lightly, presumably by the access owner's family. Miss Doug and Doug's, but not putting up with that sorry soul.

I figured the guy that was avoiding you at Doug's funeral had taken over control of it.

Pretty sure he was hoping to, know he screwed his good friend, Doug, out of another place we had.

[Darren]

Was the land sold or leased?

but you'd still have to deal with the fellow who took control of the land access after his father's death, which has queered any possible sales to date, as well a leasing possibilities. Is my understanding he'll not grant access to anyone but his current employers, who apparently got crosswise with the marsh estate's executor.

I figured the guy that was avoiding you at Doug's funeral had taken over control of it.

Pretty sure he was hoping to, know he screwed his good friend, Doug, out of another place we had.

What a zoo!?

[Rick]

Always something...

[Ducaholic]

Was the land sold or leased?

Pretty sure those 1,300 marsh acres could still be yours for $4.6 million, but you'd still have to deal with the fellow who took control of the land access after his father's death, which has queered any possible sales to date, as well a leasing possibilities. Is my understanding he'll not grant access to anyone but his current employers, who apparently got crosswise with the marsh estate's executor. Marsh was hunted lightly, presumably by the access owner's family. Miss Doug and Doug's, but not putting up with that sorry soul.


Seems as though you could sue for the right of way. Was that subject ever broached? Just curious. If you would rather not talk about it so be it.

[DComeaux]

[quote="Ducaholic" Seems as though you could sue for the right of way. Was that subject ever broached? Just curious. If you would rather not talk about it so be it.[/quote][/quote]

That's a lot of crap to shoot a duck, though if I had lots and lots of disposable money I would probably screw with this guy just for fun.

[Ducaholic]

[quote="Ducaholic" Seems as though you could sue for the right of way. Was that subject ever broached? Just curious. If you would rather not talk about it so be it.

[/quote]

That's a lot of crap to shoot a duck, though if I had lots and lots of disposable money I would probably screw with this guy just for fun.[/quote]


That's a pretty good piece of duck property. Lots of people have to sue for right of way and they get it unfettered with the right attorney.

[DComeaux]

[quote="Ducaholic" Seems as though you could sue for the right of way. Was that subject ever broached? Just curious. If you would rather not talk about it so be it.

That's a lot of crap to shoot a duck, though if I had lots and lots of disposable money I would probably screw with this guy just for fun.[/quote]


That's a pretty good piece of duck property. Lots of people have to sue for right of way and they get it unfettered with the right attorney.[/quote]

I agree, but it takes money and time.

[Rick]

The main rub with suing for access is that the marsh can also be reached through the Intracoastal, which negates the "from closest public road" rule for land-locked property access. That, and time that would be lost in the courts cut short legal speculation for an end run based on how long their farm has served as access from Doug's perspective.

[Ducaholic]

The main rub with suing for access is that the marsh can also be reached through the Intracoastal, which negates the "from closest public road" rule for land-locked property access. That, and time that would be lost in the courts cut short legal speculation for an end run based on how long their farm has served as access from Doug's perspective.

I thought as much. Thanks

[DComeaux]

The main rub with suing for access is that the marsh can also be reached through the Intracoastal, which negates the "from closest public road" rule for land-locked property access. That, and time that would be lost in the courts cut short legal speculation for an end run based on how long their farm has served as access from Doug's perspective.

I had forgot about that. Cherry Ridge is their only option to sell at this point.

[Rick]

Someone can always come in off the Intracoastal, but that comes with its own set of issues and expenses.

[Ducaholic]

Someone can always come in off the Intracoastal, but that comes with its own set of issues and expenses.

That's why I though the legal battle might be worth the money and effort for easier access. I've seen that kind of stuff go several different ways and it's not until a case reaches a point in the higher courts that the rules of law are actually incorporated to make a case. Prior to that it's all about who you know. That can get really expensive.

[13051305]

A belated thank you Rick for taking me along this season in your daily log.
I have my own thoughts and opinions why the migration patterns have changed so much for southern states including Louisiana.
For the life of me I can't understand why your hunter guests refuse to hide from working ducks!
It's on my bucket list to just sit in the blind with you and listen to you call, work the birds.

Until next season...head down, don't move they're coming in !

[Rick]

For the life of me I can't understand why your hunter guests refuse to hide from working ducks!

Some just don't know, some don't care and others have been spoiled by hunting places with enough birds that they've gotten away with it.

It's on my bucket list to just sit in the blind with you and listen to you call, work the birds.

Could be disappointing: mostly meat and potatoes...