2016 2017 Season

[DComeaux]

9/10/2016 Opening day of teal
Temp HOT! Partly cloudy no wind

Myself,Blake and Bill

Birds- 1 BW

Mottled duck working the decoys was fun to watch but the lack of teal was real. Very little shooting and spotty reports of success. Starting off like we left off last year. Hope it's not a sign of things to come.

[Rick]

I'm thinking the high water has put a lot of folks out of the field and marsh who would normally be moving game around. Know it was uncharacteristically quiet in what's normally teal banging and clanging rice country within earshot of our marsh.

That or Larry somehow managed to count 'em all, and there just aren't any down. Am going to try to keep closer tabs on drake to hen ratios this September, but our first day's virtually all drake take suggests we're just seeing the advanced guard.

The big question is "Are you eating redfish and shrimp this evening?"

[DComeaux]

No reds yet, but we're having grilled tuna steak covered with a cream, shitake ginger sauce and sauteed seasoned, asparagus.

[Rick]

Bummer.

[DComeaux]

[DComeaux]

9/11/2016

Myself,Blake and Bill

Weather- mostly clear NE breeze 5 mph really nice early morning.got hot in a hurry once the big ball cleared the horizon

Birds- 11 BW

When we stepped out of the camp this morning and felt the NE breeze I had hopes that it had brought a few birds to the marsh. We did see quite bit more this morning and having decent sized flocks back pedaling over the decoys really lifted our spirits and warmed the soul

20160911_092733.jpg

[Rick]

Whew, that's a relief.

[DComeaux]

Whew, that's a relief.

Yeah, that's exactly how we felt.


We saw a fair amount of high, big flocks coming from the north that would drop near the gulf, turn back around, and dance over the marsh heading back north at low level. We did have the opportunity for a 3 man limit, just didn't make it happen. To damn hot to sit out there after that sun starts to get up there a bit. I'm really looking forward to the cool weather.

[Darren]

Good deal! Sounds like you were seeing a similar pattern to what I did Sunday with the large flocks arriving from the north

[Ericdc]

Rick did


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[DComeaux]

Whew, that's a relief.

Yeah, that's exactly how we felt.


We saw a fair amount of high, big flocks coming from the north that would drop near the gulf, turn back around, and dance over the marsh heading back north at low level. We did have the opportunity for a 3 man limit, just didn't make it happen. To damn hot to sit out there after that sun starts to get up there a bit. I'm really looking forward to the cool weather.

you not hunt today?

No, work gets in the way. Leaving shortly for da marsh......

[DComeaux]

9-17-2016

Myself Blake and Brody

Weather - warm heavy thunderstorms in the area

Birds- 3 BW

The lightning ran us out of the marsh early and lasted for longer than we would have liked. Not much teal seen this morning and we didn't hear but a few volleys.

Brody headed out on a retriev

20160917_071538.jpg

Blake waiting on the lightning to clear the area.

20160917_094120.jpg

[DComeaux]

We shot 2.. Saw less than 100. Lightning stayed to our north and west so we managed to stick it out. But rain never stopped.

Would've had 5 if I didn't tell my guests to hold off on the first pass on a group of 3, then after them banking I noticed the bills on these blue wings were slightly larger . They lucked up, but won't be so lucky come November if they pull that stunt again .

Oh and as we got to the launch (behind a locked gate) I was informed by another member we were missing a boat battery out of my boat. Gas can and push pole out of another boat. Hate a thief

Yeah, thief's suck!

[DComeaux]

9-18-2016

Myself Blake and Brody

Weather - Some clouds - light ESE wind

Birds- 2 BW

We did see a bit more than yesterday but it was mostly high flocks going in all directions. Shooting in the area is still on the quiet side, we just don't have enough birds to go around. Water is still way high and we really need some fronts to help get things moving in the right direction.

Was a beautiful sunrise

20160918_0704421.jpg

[Rick]

Oh and as we got the launch (behind a locked gate) we were missing a boat battery out of my boat. Gas can and push pole out of another boat. Hate a thief

Grrr...

[Rick]

...it was mostly high flocks going in all directions.

Squall at them with the call, long and loud as you can. And when you're really feeling like a damn fool, holler even louder and longer.

Works for me. (When the crazy high ones aren't at least juking for me, it's generally because I've been too self-conscious to kick out the jams.)

[DComeaux]

...it was mostly high flocks going in all directions.

Squall at them with the call, long and loud as you can. And when you're really feeling like a damn fool, holler even louder and longer.

Works for me. (When the crazy high ones aren't at least juking for me, it's generally because I've been too self-conscious to kick out the jams.)

I've been doing that and wondered what those within earshot must be thinking, and I've stopped short because of this. I've had some make a turn for a look but never commit. I think, and have thought from the beginning, that our hide is not what it should be, and that we're in a mind set of when this wasn't a big deal for teal. Some in the flocks will break but I'm thinking that mom (others) who don't flinch may call them back up after knowing (seeing) whats up.

Not being able to use the pit and this high water in a new place is leaving me feeling a bit uneasy and disturbed. We'll get it right for big duck.....I hope!..... I just hope the water goes down enough to get at the pit before the main season.

[DComeaux]

How much higher is yalls water level?


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One and a half to two feet higher than normal, from what I'm told, and is evident from the look of our pits depth below it. The place was draining well but the full moon high tides have stopped that for the time being. Not to mention the 4 to 6 inches of rain (gauged by others) we've had over a two day period this weekend. Those storms wouldn't move and dumped a lot of rain, over and over again. This weekends water level was a bit higher than last weekend and we still have 6 to 8 inches or more of water over the top of the pit.

There's fish and crabs where there shouldn't be and water flow over the road in spots. It's a mess for everyone there. There's a nice mud boat shed on a section to our west that has been inaccessible for a long while now, and those that wanted to hunt there would have to find a place along the road to dump their boats. This weekend was the only activity I've seen on that side and it was only one boat who dumped off way further north of the shed.

[DComeaux]

Re: Preseason Postby DComeaux » Wed Sep 07, 2016 9:52 pm
Ellie will finally get to see and sniff up her new job location. I'll be a bit on edge and will be scanning for gators while we're hunting. I don't have a good feeling about sending her on retrieves in this hot weather in that environment. We saw the first gator out there this weekend but it was at the entrance gate which is a 11/4 miles from our location, and that dinosaur was huge. I'm going to seriously assess the situation Saturday morning and will make a go no go at that time.

Re: Preseason
Postby Rick » Thu Sep 08, 2016 4:31 am
No way would I put Ellie in that water now. Maybe Blake...

The above posts came to mind this past weekend.... I haven't taken Ellie out there yet and will not take her until it gets cold. This past Saturday when I got the boat headed in the right direction and my headlamp turned to water in front of us, I saw gator eyes. We haven't seen any during the hunts but I'm sure they know we're there. I'm just glad we don't mobilize from here in the mornings. I wouldn't like to here her whining while we're loading up and then drive off. The familiar season's routine hasn't yet started for her.

[Rick]

You know she'd be a tender, tasty meal compared to the plastic decoy going down the hatch in that DHC video.

[DComeaux]

You know she'd be a tender, tasty meal compared to the plastic decoy going down the hatch in that DHC video.

I've visualized that and have had a few conversations about this with Blake....I shudder every time.

[DComeaux]

DComeaux - where about do you hunt?????

Grand Chenier