2016-2017 Season Log

[Rick]

If Dave listens closely, he might hear me yell, "And don't come back!" after a fruitless volley. Been known to happen.

[Rick]

Date: 9/14

Time: morning

Location: mudhole

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: moderate E

Temperature: saved by the breeze again

Moon phase: nearly full

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Next to no teal within earshot and only a few more flights well upwind to our east. Need rain or a north wind soon.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Thankfully still excellent

Hunters: 1, Rick again

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Marsh didn't find one on the flotant(?) that I didn't see fall.

Special Equipment: SOS

Curses: no birds

Kudos: Rick shot very well and saved his own hunt.

Birds By Species: 7 bw teal (drakes)

Photo Ops: One the bug did find on the flotant:


Lagniappe:

[DComeaux]

The beginning of the bugs career. How's the coyote taking this?

[Rick]

Weeeell... I've been half-way tricking Peake by putting him back in the house after they've been aired together before putting Marsh in the truck or doing anything hunt-like, myself, that he can see. And I've been taking Peake by himself for rides and trips to the field.

The real rub has been with Marsh's training taking a back seat to giving Peake field time in the off season, as my loyalty is with the old dog, and I haven't had the heart to leave him at home when time and cool weather are limited. I end up taking them both for runs during which little precious little training gets done. That's going to have to somehow change between now and November if I'm going to have Marsh's handling anywhere nearly as well conditioned as need be, so I'm crossing fingers and toes for more play time and decent weather come October. If it's like last year, one dog or the other will be screwed again, and this time I'll almost have to make it Peake.

[DComeaux]

my loyalty is with the old dog, and I haven't had the heart to leave him at home when time and cool weather are limited.

I can understand that. It would be hard for me,too.





Just got a text from a guy that hunted just south of our location this morning. He had motor trouble and had to go get another boat at the camp, so he lost the first hour of LST. Took 4 and had to leave at 8;45. Said he "saw quite a few birds".

[Rick]

Could well be where ours have gone, and if we can't have 'em I'd just as soon you did. (But don't tell Blake I said that.)

[DComeaux]

I laughed ....

[Ducaholic]

Heard there was an excellent push of new birds on Caddo Lake/Shreveport yesterday. Front up that way stalled around Dallas. Hearing one may push thru next Thursday or Friday so we shall see.

[Ericdc]

This weather sucks


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[Rick]

Date: 9/15

Time: morning

Location: west Gueydan farm

Cloud Cover: clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: E light

Temperature: warm

Moon phase: full

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: T'ousands of bluewings left in wave after wave as we went in, "like the old days". And virtually none came back.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Last time I hunted that end of the farm, the birds wanted the cut north of the blind, and both yesterday morning and afternoon's parties said the same. So we set up to the north and watched most of what little came back fly the south.

Hunters: 2, Rick's last day and Chad

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Marsh had a very good morning.

Special Equipment: spinner and dark decoys

Curses: nothing to speak of returned

Kudos: Rick got to see a lot more duck butts leaving as we went in and passing from elsewhere prior to LST than he's ever seen in PA.

Birds By Species: 5 bw teal (3 drakes and 2 hens, on of the later showing just the slightest hint of white trim)

Photo Ops:

Lagniappe:

[aunt betty]

If Dave listens closely, he might hear me yell, "And don't come back!" after a fruitless volley. Been known to happen.

Ever seen my blackfoot dust-off call?
It's a Canada goose foot where the two outer toes have been slit along the web and folded back. Use a pencil and some tape to keep the center one straight while it dries.
Sorta like this only with the ducks taking off instead of landing.

14195930_322624321423769_5642576637156724418_o.jpg

[Rick]

I've been thinking on getting even this afternoon but having a hard time getting excited about sitting in the sun. May just go for the last little bit - or not. And, yes, it is somewhat encouraging to see the hens and young ones starting to show, though our sample is too small.

Looking forward to being back at the Mudhole in the morning, regardless.

[Rick]

Naw, already fed the dogs, so they're out, and without them, I'm out.

[Ericdc]

It's hard to get excited when it's 90 degrees every day.


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[Rick]

Eggzackly.

[Ericdc]

I bailed on an invite from ducaholic for Saturday.



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[Ducaholic]

I bailed on an invite from ducaholic for Saturday.



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I hope you regret it...

[Rick]

Date: 9/16

Time: morning

Location: Mudhole

Cloud Cover: clear to partly

Wind Direction and Velocity: ESE moderate

Temperature: saved by the breeze

Moon phase: full and seriously bright

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Most birds we've seen on a weekday to date, with apparently new ones high and hauling south. But also an increase in those that were working the marsh.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Seemed the low singles and pairs knew us or the spinners, but had some mighty pretty groups drop from the heavens when I stayed after them long and loud enough. Shot everything pretty, pretty.

Hunters: 1 Buckley, who was hunting with our camp when I got there in '85.

Guns:

Malfunctions: Buck's Extrema II(?) has hinky, which proved a split on the cap end of the magazine tube, and though tightened, the cap actually blew off on his last bird.

Dog(s): Just one in the flotant for Marsh, but he got to track it.

Special Equipment: SOS, with birds trying to land on the MMM

Curses: Only Buckley's gun woes.

Kudos: Single shot stretched our hunt out, and I much enjoyed hunting with such an old friend.

Birds By Species: 12 bw teal (11 drakes and 1 hen)

Photo Ops:

Lagniappe:

[Rick]

We've "reliable witness" reports of a buffalo sighting at your blind, but heavy rains have postponed my own confirmation thereof.

Same rains should be shuffling the deck some, too, even if what we're thinking new birds aren't that. Of course, their also broadening those birds' options, too.

[DComeaux]

I like your report. Especially this part... "with apparently new ones high and hauling south".

[Rick]

Date: 9/17

Time: morning

Location: Mudhole

Cloud Cover: SERIOUS ELECTRICAL STORM and rained 2 3/8" while we were in the marsh, on top of the nearly 2" since previous morning.

Wind Direction and Velocity: southerly and not strong enough to push the storm cells through quickly

Temperature:

Moon phase: full

Special Notes: Had a two blind group no-show that turned out to be Denham Springs flood victims that flat forgot about teal. Their other guide, Ed, and I waited for them at the camp until LST, then spent the first part of our morning bailing and moving a boat that had been left out in the previous rain and then draining the old gas that had disabled it and prepping it for later use. Got to the blind very late but in time for the storm.

Waterfowl Activity: Next to nothing crazy enough to move in that weather.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: What was around came quickly.

Hunters: just Ed and I

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Marsh was a trooper in the downpour and crashing light show. Made me mighty glad we'd made a point of going out and playing as storms approached since he was a wee pup.

Special Equipment: Bilge pumps in my blind and boat were the stars.

Curses: Day got off to a rough start when I found our PC had crashed, and I'd locked both my keys and my wallet with the spare in the truck during the evening before's downpour and didn't get a whole lot better.

Kudos: Didn't get zapped by the most close lightening I've yet to experience while in the marsh.

Birds By Species: 5 bw teal (4 drakes and 1 hen)

[Rick]

Date: 9/18

Time: morning

Location: Mudhole

Cloud Cover: ground fog to hazy

Wind Direction and Velocity: "0 from north"

Temperature: steamy hot

Moon phase: 95% waning

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Started out slow before picking up and the only significant south to north flight we've seen to date.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Canes around the back of my blind prevented seeing the high northbound flights in time to break them down for us, but those trafficking in other directions would still break from way the hey up if I got on them early and stayed on them late. The Daisy Cutter tuned for teal remained the marsh ticket. (While the cleaner teal-tuned MVP has shown some edge in the rice.)

Hunters: 2, father and son camp regulars Jim and David

Guns:

Malfunctions: Modified mallard machine's switch button broke again (worn out from use since 2010) and was re-soldered at the house after hot-wiring the rig for use this morning.

Dog(s): Marsh is developing faith in my handling and doing a real fine job on birds on the flotant - of which there were more than in the pond this morning. Also picking up on (Get it?) "chauffeured retrieves".

Special Equipment: SOS only started without the broken splasher. Believe it a great help for teal and felt crippled until I cut out the switch and ran it by bumping bare wires.

Curses: Only the broken switch.

Kudos: Much nicer morning than yesterdays despite the sweltering heat.

Birds By Species: 18 bw teal (15 drakes and 3 hens - one of which had bright yellow "drake" feet)

Photo Ops: Jim and Dave:

[Rick]

Date: 9/19

Time: morning

Location: Mudhole

Cloud Cover: ground fog hung in way too long

Wind Direction and Velocity: nil to light northerly

Temperature: sweltering

Moon phase: still pretty full

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: very little moving within our vision

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Not good at all, but may have been too conservative...

Hunters: 2, Ric and Sharon on a buddy hunt

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Let Marsh make his first retrieve off the stand for this season on a very close fall just to cool him off a bit.

Special Equipment: SOS (installed soldered MMM switch and it seems fine)

Curses: no birds

Kudos: nice visit

Birds By Species: 4 bw teal (3 drakes and 1 hen)

Photo Ops: Marsh's dip:


Ric and Sharon return from a late morning pee ride: