Preseason '25-'26

[Darren]

It's July so only about 80 days to go until teal season, I'm sure MB can give it to us down to the hour.

Have made a couple of offseason trips to the lease, finding some great SAV stands in place with plenty growing left to go. This past weekend made first trip to another nearby area we frequent to check out the scene and was pleased to find a variety of SAV going on there as well. Perhaps most noteworthy of the trip was first boat ride for a new puppy I've got coming along, as it was also her first trip to the camp.

The raising of an eventual successor to Harry has been quite a saga, unfortunately. The first one taken ended up being plagued with never-identified lung/pneumonia-like episodes that, loooong expensive story short, resulted in her being returned to the breeder under his health guarantee. I do not recommend anyone trying to take away a Christmas time puppy from their young children, 10/10, not recommended at all.

BUT, upside has been the kids got to come along to choose a replacement a number of weeks later, and this one has stuck with us. She stays very close to Harry, their dynamic has been phenomenal together, and she's flat dynamite around the house and the camp alike, low-key female like I'd hoped, given I'd seen same in so many others I envied.

Not much training going on beyond first swim and few obedience basics, and not in mad rush to do whole lot more just yet. Plans are for Harry to hunt this fall, and for new one to come along when it makes sense down the line. Quite new to this whole 2-dog system, but know some on here know it well and likely to be of help with the nuances of training a replacement while working the current.

She's Indigo May (picked up in that month), goes by INDY, and she's a spunky but super sweet little rat. Like her elder, just wants to be at your feet, wherever that might be.

IMG_8154.JPG

IMG_8138.JPG

IMG_8149.JPG

IMG_8133.JPG

IMG_8151.JPG

IMG_8155.JPG

IMG_8167.JPG

IMG_8170.JPG

Late June 2025

IMG_8166.JPG

Late December 2024

IMG_6229.JPG

With really no significant offseason projects needed, at least for now (knock wood), trying to just do summer stuff and do more fishing than I had been in recent summers, then take the training as she shows she's ready.

[Ducaholic]

Good Stuff

[Rick]

Appears Harry already has Indy well versed in the important stuff.

[Duck Engr]

Good to see that trainer and trainee are getting along so well!

[Deltaman]

Congrats on your new pup Darren, she's a good looking little booger!

[Duck Engr]

https://a.co/d/87q28B6

Darren I don’t know if your style of hunting requires waders for little ones but here’s a pretty good deal. I just received some for my 6 year old. They size them based on pant sizes, which is a little different from adults obviously. They also run a size large. So my son wears a 6/7 pant and a 13 kids shoe, but I ordered him the 4/5 waders. Boots fit well, just hope he doesn’t grow too much between now and November!. May have to get some strap extenders. Figured for $42 I’d take the chance.

[Darren]

https://a.co/d/87q28B6

Darren I don’t know if your style of hunting requires waders for little ones but here’s a pretty good deal. I just received some for my 6 year old. They size them based on pant sizes, which is a little different from adults obviously. They also run a size large. So my son wears a 6/7 pant and a 13 kids shoe, but I ordered him the 4/5 waders. Boots fit well, just hope he doesn’t grow too much between now and November!. May have to get some strap extenders. Figured for $42 I’d take the chance.

Thanks for sharing! Those look dang nice for the price point.

Given they're neoprene, though, my crew wouldn't get a whole lot of use of them down this way. Waders at link below have been the ticket for my son so far, and even handed down his first set to a cousin of his:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S22FXSB?re ... th=1&psc=1


He wears sweat pants (or pajama pants) under them, which is great for rolling him out of bed pre-hunt and right into his waders. They are not breathable, but given relatively little exertion by him on our hunts, that hasn't proven problematic, and they've been great blocking wind and water in both teal season and Nov-Jan.



Not a whole lot of ducky activity this weekend but did put some time on the new-ish duck boat for it's summer duties pulling a kneeboard or tube at False River/New Roads, LA, and Graham's eye for fowl proved to be in mid-season form, spotting and ID'ing BBWD's far and wide.

[DComeaux]

Seeing Harry in white face alongside Indy, which seems like only yesterday Harry was that size. Time fly's.

[Darren]

Seeing Harry in white face alongside Indy, which seems like only yesterday Harry was that size. Time fly's.

Crazy, huh?!

She continues to get redder by the day as her adult fur seems to be coming along replacing the lighter puppy fur. Though I've been holding off on getting retrieving training going, she's really starting to show some early grasp on it already just playing in the house with squeak toys. Have in mind I need to get going with a "place," both in location and command, for use in our blinds where "load up" for Harry is get to your place/dog stand, and stay there, and returns to there with retrieves.

Latest with them:

indy and harry.jpg

Rogers is having their annual pre-season sale, and decided to give these a try after last year I returned a similar pair to Academy at season's end having never taken them out of the box. Breathable and unlined ideal for our climate where I can where them for teal season, and during rainy regular season opener weekends in November when, like in 2024, they sometimes seem more September than December, with warmth, high tides, rain, or all of the above.

https://rogerssportinggoods.com/rogers- ... ble-wader/

[DComeaux]

After this gooped-up pair of lacrosse I've had for several years, used only to keep me somewhat clean from the chest down are no longer repairable, I will not buy another pair of expensive waders. If I hunted timber, that would be a different story.

[Darren]

After this gooped-up pair of lacrosse I've had for several years, used only to keep me somewhat clean from the chest down are no longer repairable, I will not buy another pair of expensive waders. If I hunted timber, that would be a different story.

Thankfully the non-insulated breathable types so prevalent now, and most appropriate for our weather, are the cheap ones to be had.

[Darren]

Did some remotely-ducky piddling at the camp Friday, tended to some pirogue tether lines, checked supplies of teal season stuff like cans of fogger, Therma-Cell, and cheapo steel loads for my now go-to 20 gage, skeet choke installed. Had thoughts of heading out to one of our blinds that needs a little shoring work on its back rail but afternoon storms were constantly around, just never on, us.

One exciting turn of events is that my Friday afternoon hunt booked with local outfitter I teal hunted with last year was offered now as an opening morning outing instead, and didn't take much arm twisting of my crew to commit to that change. So we'll look forward to just jumping in the truck with our tennis shoes on for a Delacroix-area dock meet up instead of donning waders and all to go out on our own.

Fishing yesterday was slow, typical of this time of year, so we'll opt to maybe go shoot some clays for better use of our time in coming weekends instead of more speckled trout pursuits.

FedEx says the new waders are out for delivery today, so will offer some initial thoughts on them in-hand if they show.

[PorkChop]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on those waders. I’ve been milking a leaky pair for a few years now. Not a real bad leak just kind of seeps in a little bit and by the end of the day though my right leg is all wet. With our lack of water the last few seasons, I haven’t been in a real hurry, but currently that looks like it will be changing this fall.

[PorkChop]

Congratulations on Indy!! Always a big bowl of emotions for me when I see the pictures of the new puppy and the older dogs!

[Darren]

Congratulations on Indy!! Always a big bowl of emotions for me when I see the pictures of the new puppy and the older dogs!

Thanks ! Yea I'm navigating that each day it seems, trying to stay close with my fiercely loyal fella while giving the young gal enough attention and direction to keep her development remotely on track. One thing key wild card in her training that wasn't in play for Harrison is that we have kids now, so my time is reduced, but also they like to contribute too, so it's just a tad more hectic in general.

Regardless how it turns out, there are far worse challenges in life, so we'll just keep riding along.

[Darren]

Re: Rogers Elite Uninsulated Wader

Came in yesterday, fits my frame well with the THIN/TALL version I ordered. It's much slimmer than average cut wader for my thin frame, very little excess material. Seems to be of high quality all around. I'll likely cut out the built-in fleece hand warmer as it gets too warm against my chest in warmer weather hunting, teal season for example. Besides, it's INSIDE the wader, without external access to it, thus would be under my jacket anyway which has fleece lined pockets on its own.

The boot is not overly bulky, seems to fit true to size, is well insulated (which I arguably dont need but should be OK).

Think I'm going to keep them and make a few tweaks to get it how I need it.


Side note:
I presume the hand warmer is inside the wader to be used by those who wear their waders over their jacket, that is, the jacket is inside their wader, which seems common. I don't get it; so when it rains you just have rain running down your jacket into your waders? No thanks.

[Duck Engr]

I’m a jacket inside the wader guy unless it’s raining. I hunt deeper water sometimes and I always seem to forget I have a jacket hanging down until it’s saturated.

[Darren]

I’m a jacket inside the wader guy unless it’s raining. I hunt deeper water sometimes and I always seem to forget I have a jacket hanging down until it’s saturated.

I figured that was the logic, and that arrangement seems far more common than the other way around. Some make a "wading jacket" of shorter length, presumably for that very factor.

[Darren]

State of the union on the retriever front - cooler mornings this weekend allowed for some good windows to put Harry to work. At 10.5 yrs old now, watching him close while so enjoying how much of a pro he continues to be. I say “pro” in that he’s simply got down pat what I need and ask of him. He’s not a field trial type, but he will go get your birds and sniff them out of some ugly stuff time and time again. Just so spoiled with him in what seems almost borrowed time of his apparently continued service. Knock wood all around.

IMG_8457.jpeg

Young Indy’s taking some small steps as we slowly get her going, staying patient. That said, she's really nailing the temperament and indoor/social behavior aspects of her role so far, just super sweet and wants to be around us, no jumping around or on our frequent collection of young kids visiting from down the street.

IMG_8461.jpeg

[DComeaux]

It's so nice with the older dogs when they have it figured out. I'm glad I'm past the very young start over process with Remi. I still have some time to go with her but it's field time and actual hunting that's needed now. She'll be 2 on the 19th of November.

[Darren]

Getting far enough into August now that models are picking up on hints of cool fronts.....a lot more fun to be tracking than that other thing people like to run models for this time of year.

Knocking more wood.

[Rick]

Don't know any more about macro guestimations beyond what some of you guys post, but I know that on the here-and-now micro level it was as typically mid-August as could be where Call and I tried to enjoy a country lap this morning. Sweat's starting to bead on my head just thinking about it.

[Darren]

Don't know any more about macro guestimations beyond what some of you guys post, but I know that on the here-and-now micro level it was as typically mid-August as could be where Call and I tried to enjoy a country lap this morning. Sweat's starting to bead on my head just thinking about it.

Same here, but interestingly enough I was on a site walk for work Wednesday outside of Fort Worth.

Outside. Fort Worth. August. It should have been miserable, but shockingly it was flat lovely. Dry air, and in the shade with a breeze, legit felt late Sept or better. Locals were quite confused as we walked around, and visitors that came from far were also surprised the heat didn't live up to the hype


Models still showing support for a midwest cooldown around Mon Aug 25, fun to keep watching at least. Doubt it would make it down to here, but would probably move teal.

[Darren]

A week out, check out the front trying to drop south:

Capture1.JPG

Capture2.JPG

Fun to track anyway

[Duck Engr]

I’d cut off an appendage for those morning lows! You can bet your britches I’ll be meeting daylight at the farm the first morning they even think we’re getting down to 65.

[Darren]

Growing up I always lumped in August with June and July, and most Louisiana residents still do. But it wasn't until I started traveling in my career did I realize how "fally" August can be for much of the nation north of me while we usually stay summer-like down here. I've left my hot neighborhood and by evening was sitting around a buddy's Des Moines area fire pit with a fleece on in mid- to late August.

These model runs are just further evidence of how fall-like patterns can begin to show up, well before most of us might figure.

[DComeaux]

Growing up I always lumped in August with June and July, and most Louisiana residents still do. But it wasn't until I started traveling in my career did I realize how "fally" August can be for much of the nation north of me while we usually stay summer-like down here. I've left my hot neighborhood and by evening was sitting around a buddy's Des Moines area fire pit with a fleece on in mid- to late August.

These model runs are just further evidence of how fall-like patterns can begin to show up, well before most of us might figure.

I made a trip to Oshkosh Wisconsin in August quite a few years ago. We left in shorts and T shirts, and we had to wear a light jacket in the evenings up there.

[Darren]

And now the "pro's" are latching on.....
Don't forget who broke it 1st !

Capture.JPG

[Rick]

Given this year's late teal opener, I'll almost be hoping that front doesn't give them a push. "Almost" because I've been jonesing for the little jewels pretty hard of late - to the point of rereading my old pre-season and September teal logs here.

Which has reminded me, Darren, that you and Johnny were on hand for what turned out to be my last September teal trip to the mudhole. "Those were the days..."

[Darren]

Given this year's late teal opener, I'll almost be hoping that front doesn't give them a push. "Almost" because I've been jonesing for the little jewels pretty hard of late - to the point of rereading my old pre-season and September teal logs here.

Which has reminded me, Darren, that you and Johnny were on hand for what turned out to be my last September teal trip to the mudhole. "Those were the days..."

Honored and saddened alike to hold that spot; actually was just looking at some photos, and most importantly, video clips I have on file from that hunt. Seeing those wads come around again and again to your calling after we'd already filled......never gets old. Know its same (and much more) for you, but I'd kill to have 1 of the upcoming 9 hunt days in that blind.

IMG_1569.PNG

IMG_1563.JPG

IMG_1562.JPG

Know the thought of significant early fronts and a late Sept teal season date set may bring to mind the chance of "missing them," but I have a hard time believing that plays out. Can only think of one season in last 15+ where we actually had discussions of having missed them as they seemed to come through earlier than usual that year. My money remains squarely on still plenty more to come long after October 1st as has been the case in most years. Heck, my Delacroix outfitter connection was holding thousands on thousands of bluewings for the 2024 regular season opener, and I'm sure glad, because I got to shoot them too after they ran 'em off to points they'd rather not hang out......so they came visit me in the deep outer marshes.