2024 2025 Season Log

[Bud]

Read a duck story regarding their weekend hunt. He and his partner had limits in 15 minutes. Gadwall, wigeon, and teal. They started coming in harder, so they watched awhile. Next day they swapped blinds with two guys they knew. That marsh blind was the same for the second crew. The two also limited in the other blind. Who do I believe? The guy with his eighteen ducks and a guests six= 24 ducks to clean.

[Rick]

I saw a post on FB recently from a local outfitter that said he was not going to post their success as much on social media anymore due to others coming in and trying to outbid him on his leased property's. Duck hunters are vultures.

Was almost always guys who sublet or hunted our stuff with us who snaked it. Everyone thinks outfitters are jacking prices up, but they can't hang with those not needing to make a profit.

[DComeaux]

I went down to the camp last Friday evening with my wife, daughter, and grandson. I needed to run the crab traps so I thought I'd take them along.

"This boat is Wiggling"








I got a few videos this afternoon of a run Randall and 1 made in our marsh and It seems promising. Lots of gadwall and green wing. Water looks to be at a lower level than last weekend. I'll find out this evening.

[Duck Engr]

That’s the good stuff Dave!

[Rick]

Jack's got his priorities in order, "Pop, where's the duck blind?"

[DComeaux]

Jack's got his priorities in order, "Pop, where's the duck blind?"

It did sound like Jack. I called him Brant. Short for Brantley.

[DComeaux]

Date: 12/21/2024 2nd split opening day

Direction and Velocity: NNE 10 to 15 maybe a bit stronger

Cloud cover: clear

Temperature: low 40's

Moon phase: Wanning gibbous

Waterfowl Activity: Very little seen

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Hunters: Me, Blake, and Bill

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi

Special Equipment: None

Curses:

Kudos:
Birds By Species: 2 scaup 3 GW


Cold hunt with no birds. Even the well managed stuff down there is struggling.

[DComeaux]

Date: 12/22/2024

Direction and Velocity: NNE 5 to 10

Cloud cover: Clear

Temperature: 39

Moon phase: Third quarter

Waterfowl Activity: Very few seen.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Hunters: Me, Blake, and Bill

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi

Special Equipment: None

Curses:

Kudos:

Birds By Species: Scratch

I'll take 60-degree weather with SE winds for the remainder of the season. Y'all can have your cold fronts.

Our water is still on a slow fall, and we're starting to see and hold a handful of ducks on the flats just a stone's throw to our north. We're not hunting next weekend. I got roped into a 12-hour one way drive over Christmas. They're lucky our duck situation sucks, or I would have opted out of such shenanigans.

[Rick]

I'll take 60-degree weather with SE winds for the remainder of the season. Y'all can have your cold fronts.

Meanwhile, I'm cringing at the thought of crossing my long open water, follow-the-rut stretch in the dense fog the coming warm weather will bring under a new moon - and gator friendly water temps - and slow easterly wind hunting.

[Duck Engr]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose

[DComeaux]

Date: 1/4/2025

Direction and Velocity: NNE to E 10 to 15

Cloud cover: mostly clody

Temperature: comfortable

Moon phase: not sure

Waterfowl Activity: next to nothing

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Hunters: Me and Blake

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi

Special Equipment: None

Curses: Not having birds to train a new pup

Kudos:

Birds By Species: Scratch

I've become comfortably numb to this duck situation. I guess this will be the norm for the near future. Not at all upset that we're closed next weekend during this forcasted cold period. The lack of ducks down here is saddening and seems unreal.

[Duck Engr]

There’s some serious freaking out finally starting to go on in Arkansas too. All the ingredients are there, except ducks in a lot of places that usually have them.

[DComeaux]

Date: 1/5/2025

Direction and Velocity: SE 5 to 10 early then ripping, but not until we left the blind

Cloud cover: mostly cloudy

Temperature: comfortable upper 60's

Moon phase: not sure

Waterfowl Activity: less than next to nothing

Waterfowl Responsiveness: N/A

Hunters: Me and Blake

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi

Special Equipment: None

Curses: Again, not having birds to train a new pup. I'm going to start bringing dummies to the blind to give her something to do.

Kudos:

Birds By Species: Scratch

We bugged out at 8, emptied the crab traps, and got the camp ready for the cold weather. As I mentioned above, I'm not disappointed about the split happening now. Even the high dollar areas down there had ones and twos per blind this morning. I was told that the Oak Grove club had shut down their duck hunts due to the lack of birds. That right there is unbelievable.

[Rick]

I was told that the Oak Grove club had shut down their duck hunts due to the lack of birds. That right there is unbelievable.

Know they've been struggling, but the host of our weekend party said his dad was hunting there (and struggling)this weekend with one of the owners. Could just be that some owners aren't using their allotted days. Don't know.

Know that if it wasn't for squealers, our hunters would have to learn to hit jacks or go home quite light the past few days.

[DComeaux]

Could just be that some owners aren't using their allotted days. Don't know.

That's likely the case for most.

[DComeaux]

I put the vest on Remi for the first time near the end of the first split. I had to laugh.




Even with the birdless skies Blake and I are still anticipating being back in the blind for the third split opening day. I just don't know how much longer this feeling (sickness) will continue to motivate me with this lack of waterfowl. Blake and I scouted and have found a new location for the blind about 400 yards north of our current location. It will give us wind and more importantly wave protection.
With the major rebuild of the main outer levees and the implementation of more control structures in progress for our and the adjoining marsh areas I inquired over the weekend on what might be our "normal" water level going forward to be sure we're not left high and dry before moving the blind. The shallow area we chose has been holding a few hundred waterfowl of many species as of late, as well as hundreds of other feathered marsh dwellers. It's something we'll mull over in the upcoming weeks. I'd like to move it well before the summer heat and have it completed for the growing season of the natural brush we'll have and plant.

I took a walk to let Remi unwind a bit and took a picture of what I saw of our dwindling blind area. This is a panoramic view of our eroding sliver of land. I wish I could find a picture from this vantage point from when we first installed it prior to the two hurricanes. It was once as wide or wider as where I'm standing and extended well past the boat hide curving to the right for twenty of more yards which provided for wave protection for the decoys from our prominent SSE winds. It was also once covered with lush marsh grasses. The salt water from the breach this year killed all of the taller cordgrass and what I call whip.

20250104_091609.jpg

This is a closeup of our losing battle with the elements. I think Blake's giving me the single digit salute.

20250104_091703.jpg

[Rick]

The history tab on Google Earth's toolbar could be of interest in that regard.

[DComeaux]

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mid-winter-storm-front/id1702195856?i=1000683304661

[Rick]

Those guys nearly put me back to sleep, and far and away the best thing about checking it out this morning was being reminded of and revisiting the clip of Remi in her new vest.

Been putting off fitting Call with one of the two I put up when Cabela's stopped offering the design I strongly favor, in part because I got them in the XL and XXL sizes my past 70-something and 90-something lb Chessies wore and assumed that, at a bit under 60lbs, he'd be lost in even the smaller of the two. But thanks to the design's wide velcro closure, the XL can be snugged around his chest and, as long as that's as it should be, the rest can be properly snugged with some home tailoring. Have the technology (felt marker, straight edge, neoprene cement and scissors), just lack the gumption to get off my arse and do it.

[MallardBay]

Dave, banded a whole slew of ducks down your way at Rockefeller last night. Net went out around sunset and we didn't drive off till after 10 PM with over 30 volunteers. So at least there are some in the area. 95+% were teal including some absolute stud blues and greens. A few spoons to finish out the capture. We could hear pintail in the area while working the birds but it was reported that they don't like the capture area. At any rate I'd thought I'd let you and others know.

[DComeaux]

Dave, banded a whole slew of ducks down your way at Rockefeller last night. Net went out around sunset and we didn't drive off till after 10 PM with over 30 volunteers. So at least there are some in the area. 95+% were teal including some absolute stud blues and greens. A few spoons to finish out the capture. We could hear pintail in the area while working the birds but it was reported that they don't like the capture area. At any rate I'd thought I'd let you and others know.

We were hoping for our GW piles that hadn't showed up yet. Our water has been too deep. Thanks for the info.

[Rick]

Wonder what the single bird recapture record is? Would seem a lot of grief to put up with for that easy meal.

[MallardBay]

Wonder what the single bird recapture record is? Would seem a lot of grief to put up with for that easy meal.

Not sure on single bird record but I do know we finished with 111 of total netted as recaps. And my 11 year old commented that the blue wings were much more likely to be a recap than greenwings were. I'd agree with him. Even though greening were a much higher total number it seemed that blue wings were noted more frequently as recaps. I'd be interested to hear what Paul thinks about that.

[Deltaman]

Dave, Thanks for the funny clip of Remi in her new vest. Made me laugh heartily!!!!!!

[DComeaux]

I don't know if I can handle another 60-day season like this one. I hope I see waterfowl in our marsh Friday afternoon when I run out to the blind to check on things.

[DComeaux]

Some of you may have already seen this.

Paul Yakupzack
January 2, 2025
WHY NO DUCKS?
Many factors contribute to the lack of ducks currently experienced by North American waterfowl hunters. First let’s discuss who is responsible for ducks. The U.S. Dept. Of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has international treaty trust authority for all migratory birds. The individual states are divided into 4 Flyways. Each flyway is composed of member states’ Wildlife Departments. The FWS sets season frameworks and bag limit frameworks for migratory birds including ducks. The individual states set opening and closing dates, daily bag limits, splits, and zones according to those frameworks.
For many years duck populations were robust, the prairie pothole region was lush and wet, and the duck experts declared that hunting did not negatively impact duck populations. As time went on, things changed on the prairie pothole breeding grounds in the US and Canada, which is where most ducks originate. Loss of grass and wetland habitats, coupled with serious drought in 2020 and lesser droughts since have decimated duck populations.
In recent decades, agricultural drainage and plowing have greatly expanded to grow ethanol corn and other crops thereby removing the lush breeding potholes and grass habitats that previously existed. The crash of the furbearer market also allowed predators to have severe impacts on nesting ducks. Many research projects on duck nest success indicate that less than 15% of duck nests successfully fledge young ducks (15% nest success being the break even point for duck populations to be maintained).
DUCK SURVEY ERRORS LEAD TO FAULTY MODEL OUTPUTS
The FWS Breeding Waterfowl Population survey (BPOP) is the cornerstone for managing duck populations in North America, and has been since 1955. The BPOP models ASSUME a 50-50 male to female mallard sex ratio when estimating the mallard breeding population. HOWEVER, recent research has concluded that the mallard sex ratio is closer to 80:20 males to females, thus significantly over estimating the mallard breeding population.
The BPOP survey also estimates the number of “May Ponds” each year as an index of the number of wetlands used by ducks for breeding. In the early days of the BPOP a “May Pond” was a pothole surrounded by dense vegetation where hen ducks nested and produced young ducks largely hidden from marauding predators. Fast forward to current “May Ponds” and many are drained grassless wet spots in agricultural fields that are absolutely worthless to nesting ducks. Because of protocols in place since the initiation of the BPOP in the 1950’s, these drained useless wet spots are still counted as “May Ponds” even though they have little to no value to nesting ducks. Many (most?) of the counted “May Ponds” drain into the field and disappear when the frost seal leaves the ground – often shortly after the BPOP survey has been concluded.
The combination of overestimated yearly mallard populations, and overestimated “May Pond” data has led to false conclusions that North American duck populations are more robust than actually exists. The FWS, along with flyway councils, have yet to acknowledge the above facts and continue to set season length and bag limits based on faulty survey results through Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) models and matrices. The same 60 day season and 6 duck bag limit has been in place for 27 years despite the faulty survey estimates mentioned herein. Although the primary historic driver of duck population declines is likely loss of habitat, continued liberal duck regulations based on faulty population and wetlands data likely is adding to decimated duck populations across North America, as can be seen by recent mid-winter population estimates, and harvest of ducks across North America. For example, Louisiana’s November 2024 aerial survey was the lowest number of ducks on record as was the November 2023 survey. Other state waterfowl surveys have also shown very low duck numbers. The total US harvest of mallards in 1999, just after the initiation of liberal 60 day and 6 duck limits in AHM, was 5.9 million birds. By 2023 that number had steadily dropped to 2.0 million – or a third of the harvest that occurred when liberal regulations were initiated. It is time to reevaluate the role of conservation and hunting in North American waterfowl populations and quit using unproven theories and rhetoric.
With all these facts before us, it remains to be seen who will take action to REVERSE the DUCK DEMISE? Will it be the FWS? Flyway Councils, Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, state wildlife departments?
The DUCK DEMISE is not a secret! Someone somewhere needs to show LEADERSHIP AND TAKE CHARGE OF THE SITUATION, FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO ENJOY THE GREAT TRADITION OF WATERFOWL HUNTING.

[SpinnerMan]

I think there is a lot of truth in that post.

I also believe that the long seasons and higher limits for such a long time has shifted where the ducks are. Darwinian math. Shifting them from areas of highest hunter pressure to lower hunting pressure (basically south to north for mallards). The warmer winters have also shifted populations. Everyone is starting to see specks where I hunt when we never saw specks 20 years ago. The goose club I'm in had never shot a speck until about 3 years ago. They've got 2 or 3 this year and it's been a terrible year for goose hunting. One guy in the clubhouse the other day said he needs to get some speck decoys. Nobody would have ever considered that 20 years ago.

The BPOP models ASSUME a 50-50 male to female mallard sex ratio when estimating the mallard breeding population. HOWEVER, recent research has concluded that the mallard sex ratio is closer to 80:20 males to females, thus significantly over estimating the mallard breeding population.

The 1 to 1 ratio (50% hens) may be too optimistic, but it's a lot less than 4 drakes per hen (20% hens). I see a lot of mallards goose hunting in January. There's no shortage of hens. Looking at my logs, I keep track of drakes and hens. We shoot less than 2 drakes per hen. Given everybody shoots drakes first, if it were anywhere close to 4 to 1, we'd be killing more like 8 to 1.

This year we actually shot 5 hens to 1 drake. But I think that's a little bit of an outlier on the very small sample size. But extremely unlikely if the population were 4 to 1 the other way.

I don't know about the other species, but our mallards don't show up until later. We just don't get the winter weather in the early part of the winter to bring them down. Come January when our season is closed, mallards galore.

Sunday we had mallards flying around almost nonstop from around 9AM until we packed up at 2PM. At first I thought it was a coincidence, but ever time I'd blow the goose call, the ducks would start chattering. I think I might need to mix in some goose calling next year when I'm duck hunting in the fields. Can't hurt.

We have no shortage of mallards. The bulk of them just get here too late most winters. Without heavy snow, they don't leave.

[DComeaux]

I watched this video a couple of times. No music just the sights and sounds of the hunt. Seemed like such a relaxing easy hunt.

[Darren]

Ohhhh just casually wrecking my beloved grays in publicly provided flooded corn, no wonder I dont hardly see any of them lately.

My grays around the marsh won't touch a spinner, but in flooded corn, they love it.......shocker.

[Deltaman]

Sweet hunt Dave, and Thanks for sharing!
I have just about forgotten what that looks like in the wild, ha ha