Duck Season 2025-2026

[DComeaux]

Blake an I had a pair of spoons land near us Saturday and we got to observe them for a while. The drake was dressed the the nines. The hen began to sift through the shallow water, followed almost immediately by the drake. They zig and zagged across the pond heading away from us, then left for greener pastures. I have no doubt they found nothing to eat. We saw a lot of true pairs this weekend. We hunt too far into the cycle of waterfowl life.

[Darren]

Something to keep an eye on for rest of the week and preparing for weekend......models are in remarkable agreement this morning for ice storm potential this weekend.

[Darren]

Something to keep an eye on for rest of the week and preparing for weekend......models are in remarkable agreement this morning for ice storm potential this weekend.

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[DComeaux]

That sucks.

[Rick]

"We'll see..."

We will have decades long camp regulars this weekend, and that could be their last chance for a small taste of how it once was.

[Darren]

Models this morning mostly keeping frozen precip above I-10 which really is about what that graphic was showing yesterday.

But my cousin was hoping to come down from Dallas on Thurs and return Sunday......doesn't look too promising for that at the moment.

From same local Met this morning:

A HIGH IMPACT weather event is coming to Louisiana this weekend. The approaching winter storm is likely to produce an ice storm that will shut down everything for several days, knock out power and make for some dangerous cold weather.
Multiple things need to be addressed here. We have high confidence this is going to happen. Some of the small details need to be ironed out like how far south will the freezing line get? Ice potential could extend down to I-10 in portions of Louisiana.
This is not going to be fun. This is not going to be a big snow day. Ice is dangerous, especially this level of ice accumulation. If I live along the I-20 corridor, I would prepare like a hurricane is coming. Expect to lose power, expect to lose it for several days. That means no heat for days while temperatures dip into the teens. Trees and power lines will likely break and fall due to the weight of the ice.
You will NOT be traveling this weekend. From Texas to the Carolinas and everywhere in between, this will be a large winter storm. If you stay far enough south, maybe you can still go about your travel plans but going north will NOT be happening.

[Darren]

Will got a quick solo limit of 4 grays/2 GWT this morning in our West Pond, dead calm conditions. He then made a pass by my South Roseau hole on his way home and said they were in there for sure so that's my plan for Friday.

[Darren]

Fri. 1/23/2026
Delacroix HBFC South Roseau Blind
David B and I shooting, my son supervising, Harry on the stand
Winds 5-15 NE, moderate fog, 50's

Seemingly ideal conditions with the fog and even some wind to go with it and thankfully the birds showed. Got new dog stand installed and some other blind work, better brushing, etc. before LST while David put out decoys. Teal were working early, though oddly just singles for the most part, and teal in general today were sketchy other than one nice group that worked beautifully. Grays were largely MIA other than one pair that did just as we wished they all did. Over before we knew it, great outing.

(12) 10 GW teal, 2 grays

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My guy worked hard again today in the shallows

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Having hard time justifying changing blinds for tomorrow with similar conditions but TBD. Will got another solo limit in our West Pond, 4 GW teal, 2 grays.

[DComeaux]

Nice hunt, Darren.

Seems from the repots I got on our end today we've got an influx of GW. Blake and I will give it a go in the morning then pack up and call it season. I want to be home before this artic blast hits. Hopefully the rain holds off long enough for us to get in a hunt and lets us run the crab traps for the last time.

[Duck Engr]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! That and "don’t try to guide the guide” are what I try to live by.

Glad to see Harry still getting it done.

[Darren]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! That and "don’t try to guide the guide” are what I try to live by.

Glad to see Harry still getting it done.

Works for me, going back to same blind in the AM. Only one way to find out......

[Darren]

Sat. 1/24/2026
Delacroix HBFC South Roseau Blind
Johnny, Beau R. and I shooting, my son supervising, Harry and Indy on the stand/in the blind for 1st time
Winds 10-15+ NE, 50's, heavy clouds, storms coming later today associated with winter storm Fern


Other than giving A51 a try, couldn't think of another option I liked better than simply returning here today. As we saw a couple of weeks back, though, with weather anticipated later, seemed like birds just mostly sat for first couple of hours of morning, had just 2 teal to show for first few hours and contemplated calling it but little by little saw some chances. Teal were again very skittish and apparently decoy-averse, total change from all season but maybe these are stale veterans of the area. Pairs or groups, they just wouldn't get right so took what we could. Grays that came were likewise skittish/stale, would drop but not do anything resembling finishing, and didn't see many overall. Lost two long off crips, and had a third just get up and fly off on Harry's approach. Sat till nearly noon given it was our last hunt of season and birds seemed to show better as it got later, really enjoyable time with very old friends and my son. Ace shooting and little better luck we probably get limits but we were happy with our take given calendar date. A few groups north of us had a good many absolutely monstrous volleys, plainly seemed to be teal ops instead of grays.

11 GW teal

Dogs all over at camp last night (+ Will's Loki)

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New era begins, Graham ditched me for Beau when he learned Indy would ride with us

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Lingered at the blind a bit while others got decoys, flat smitten with this location in the canes. Perhaps it reminds me a lot of Rick's old honey hole the way the birds whip around the canes.

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Indy showed a little surprise with the first volley or two, but after that seemed to start getting into the game and even quickly pursued a bird I downed in the surrounding cane after watching it fall. She swam the pond at a pace I don't know I've ever seen out of Harry, was like a jack rabbit when out in the marsh, and was a pro in the pirogue......lot of promise seen in her today. Will got a quick solo limit at A51, all GWT, made most of two early wads decoying perfectly, I'm told. He buttoned up that blind for us, removed the BlindGrass installations, and even dropped them off in my boat on his way back to the ramp, big help!

[Darren]

Will closed out the season for our marsh club today with a solo limit ahead of the weather/cold blast. 4 GWT, 1 bufflehead, 1 mottled drake in our Heart Pond.

[Duck Engr]

What a year! Congrats to you guys.

[Rick]

Indy showed a little surprise with the first volley or two, but after that seemed to start getting into the game and even quickly pursued a bird I downed in the surrounding cane after watching it fall. She swam the pond at a pace I don't know I've ever seen out of Harry, was like a jack rabbit when out in the marsh, and was a pro in the pirogue......lot of promise seen in her today.

Sweet to end a season with a pup's new beginning.

[Deltaman]

Great reports Darren, and loved seeing the late show of Green wings!

[Darren]

Indy showed a little surprise with the first volley or two, but after that seemed to start getting into the game and even quickly pursued a bird I downed in the surrounding cane after watching it fall. She swam the pond at a pace I don't know I've ever seen out of Harry, was like a jack rabbit when out in the marsh, and was a pro in the pirogue......lot of promise seen in her today.

Sweet to end a season with a pup's new beginning.

Really excited to have that initial introduction out of the way and put my gun-shy fears to apparent rest. Look forward to taking her out in the marsh all off season to further acclimate but she sure seemed to have been a fast learner for this one outing.