2014-2015 Season Log...

[Rick]

Date: 12/28

Time: afternoon

Location: compressor

Cloud Cover: raining more on than off

Wind Direction and Velocity: northerly fairly strong

Temperature: cold when wet

Barometer:

Moon phase:

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Had a mixed body nearby that drew everything new but gave us a few chances at birds leaving it for quieter ground.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Lord knows some wanted to work, but we were double whammied by trying to use some Big Foot speck decoys another guide had left in the blind and John's failure to cover up regardless of how I suggested it. Young Jackson did a great job on that account. But what didn't get to us first and bump off John's big open hole and crossed the decoys first bumped off of them. No wonder the guy who owns them has been struggling and sky blasting when I've watched his hunts.

Hunters: 2, long time regular, John, and his grandson, Jackson.

Guns: John's a gun collector who was shooting a Browning, and Jackson was shooting an old Ithaca 37 20ga

Malfunctions: When we did have a shooting op, John couldn't find his safety - as is his custom. From his first split hunt on 11/23:

Malfunctions: couldn't get the safety or second shot to work

Dog(s): easy money, except for the cold

Special Equipment:

Kudos: had a nice visit

Curses: nasty a--ed afternoon to be out

Birds By Species: 1 speck

Photo Ops: Our one bit of fortune:

[Rick]

12/28 morning hunt addendum: morning speck:

[DComeaux]

Curses: nasty a--ed afternoon to be out

I would have been out in that if Brody didn't need to get home for noon. If I had known this before leaving home this morning he would have driven his own vehicle out there. Kind of glad it worked out the way it did though, I stayed dry.... BUTTTTT!, the specks were starting to trickle in from the north and working the fields around us while we were picking up. I would have liked to see what we could have done with those birds. I think it's time to break out the "better" speck decoys.

[Rick]

I think it's time to break out the "better" speck decoys.

Was pretty frustrating to watch our birds hit the up button on the elevator when they got to the Big Foots yesterday. Back when they made the first run of specks, I ponied up the then un-godly sum of $36 per for some of what I thought would be the ticket and was sorely disappointed to find it harder to finish birds over them than the standard sized G&H shells that were then our gold standard. Fought with them much longer than I should have, trying to make that investment pay off. For specks, smaller is definitely better in my experience.

[DComeaux]

I think it's time to break out the "better" speck decoys.

Was pretty frustrating to watch our birds hit the up button on the elevator when they got to the Big Foots yesterday. Back when they made the first run of specks, I ponied up the then un-godly sum of $36 per for some of what I thought would be the ticket and was sorely disappointed to find it harder to finish birds over them than the standard sized G&H shells that were then our gold standard. Fought with them much longer than I should have, trying to make that investment pay off. For specks, smaller is definitely better in my experience.

The decoy change was for me to do. I'm still using the floaters and will have to go to the flocked. They're getting wary.

[Rick]

I suspect you'll be glad you did. Know I've found FBs and even shells much more effective than floaters.

[Rick]

Date: 12/29

Time: morning

Location: mudhole

Cloud Cover: heavy and misting all morning

Wind Direction and Velocity: NE but very calm

Temperature: chilly in the wet

Barometer:

Moon phase:

Special Notes:

Waterfowl Activity: Nil. Just a few teal and local big ducks.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Thank goodness the teal would work pretty.

Hunters: 2, John and grandson, Jackson, again

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): The coyote demonstrated one heck of a nose twice, first on a teal he pegged from nearly 100yds and again on a rotten bird someone had pitched near the boat house. Went from "hero to zero" just like that.

Special Equipment: SOS

Kudos: Nice folks

Curses: Tough hunt.

Birds By Species: 11 gw teal and 1 spoon.

Photo Ops:

[Ericdc]

Ready for some sunshine?

[Rick]

Thought we saw a bluish patch at one point this morning. It was beautiful. And then it was gone...

[Darren]

Wednesday looking to be next day of WIND and SUN, tomorrow just wind...maybe? We'll be back at 'em on Wednesday

[Rick]

Date: 12/30

Time: morning

Location: mudhole

Cloud Cover: heavy, yet again

Wind Direction and Velocity: NE moderate to strong

Temperature: cold in the wind

Barometer: 30.3 rising

Moon phase: waxing half

Special Notes: another deary morning

Waterfowl Activity: next to nothing moving on our end, just a couple early teal flights and a few local big ducks

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Teal did as bid and locals did as they do. Wish I didn't feel obligated to try them for folks with little opportunity, as it just makes them that much harder the next time.

Hunters: father and two sons

Guns:

Malfunctions:

Dog(s):

Special Equipment: SOS

Kudos: good folks

Curses: bad hunting

Birds By Species: 1 gadwall and 5 gw teal

Photo Ops:

[DComeaux]

It's getting cold out!!!

[Rick]

Yes, it is. Local car wash is screwed up, and by the time I finished ours in the drive for a funeral tomorrow afternoon, I was wishing I'd just taken it to Jennings. Hoping tomorrow's sun brings some birds with it, as I'll be taking first timers excited enough about the trip that they've been calling me for planning advice and to see if "everything's on track". Hate to have them find everything but the ducks is.

[DComeaux]

Yes, it is. Local car wash is screwed up, and by the time I finished ours in the drive for a funeral tomorrow afternoon, I was wishing I'd just taken it to Jennings. Hoping tomorrow's sun brings some birds with it, as I'll be taking first timers excited enough about the trip that they've been calling me for planning advice and to see if "everything's on track". Hate to have them find everything but the ducks is.

Funeral!? Is it family? Not the weather for car washing, for sure.

I hope you get the birds tomorrow Rick, but I have confidence in ya. You always seem to come through. I'd be more than happy with the bird numbers you and the mud hole have produced so far.

[Bud]

Rick, Went and sat in a tree locally couple of evenings ago. More water in the swamps than I've seen in many years, and it's running water. Climbed down about 15 minutes earlier than usual, and noticed on the drive out wood ducks flying across the road.....under the treeline. Toss a coin and figure where to hunt them. Doe days end tomorrow, so I'll feel safe enough to give 'em a try if I get the time. I seriously doubt they will be on the ponds or in the rivers.

Hope the new guys get something they're looking for. One never knows...hope they come your way.

Sorry for your loss.

[Ericdc]

Sun came out at 10 up here and we had a decent late morning shoot.

[Rick]

Funeral!? Is it family?

One of Cheryl's sisters passed unexpectedly.

[Darren]

Funeral!? Is it family?

One of Cheryl's sisters passed unexpectedly.

Sorry to hear that Rick, thoughts and prayers for her and family.

[DComeaux]

Funeral!? Is it family?

One of Cheryl's sisters passed unexpectedly.

Y'all have my condolences, Rick.

[Rick]

Thank you, I'll pass it along.

[Rick]

Date: 12/31

Time: morning

Location: mudhole

Cloud Cover: clear, gloriously clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: strong NE

Temperature: cold

Barometer: 30.4 flat

Moon phase: about half

Special Notes: first sun we've seen in days, and it was wonderful

Waterfowl Activity: Not a lot of anything but better flights of everything than yesterday, including a number of geese coming out of the rice.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Birds worked sweet in the sun, particularly the specks which couldn't have come nicer, and the blue goose trick worked slick on the one flight I tried it on.

Hunters: 2, father and grown son, Harold and Mark

Guns:

Malfunctions: Mark lost the forend cap off his Beretta 400 in the boat slip on the third(?) volley and had to use my Benelli 20, the rear safety on which threw him some after being accustomed to the Beretta's forward one.

Dog(s): Worked Peake fairly hard on chipped birds, one of which he lost.

Special Equipment: SOS

Kudos: Neat day to be out there, even without a gun.

Curses: Would have been neater with a gun. (Really, really need to start stashing a spare gun int the blind.) And Harold struggled with the speed even big birds over the plate got out in such wind.

Birds By Species: 1 gadwall, 2 gw teal, 3 mallards, 2 pins, 2 spoons, 1 snow and 4 specks

Photo Ops: Was specklebelly day at the mudhole:






with a bonus blue:


Also tired pup day:


and happy camper day, Harold and Mark:

[DComeaux]

Nice Hunt!!

[Flightstopper]

Would love to witness speck day at the mudhole.

[Ericdc]

Much slower at my place today, just not much of anything flying like yesterday despite the fantastic conditions. Might try them Saturday in the rain and what looks like our first south wind in a while.

[Ericdc]

Glad y'all got some specks to play today. We clipped one yesterday and got to see a good chase through our shallow ag field.

[DeadEye_Dan]

Thanks for sharing the log and pics Rick.

My sympathies to you and yours as well.

[Rick]

Would love to witness speck day at the mudhole.

Yes, you would have. Birds just took a fit to work to it like field and got themselves shot trying to land it. No reason other than not enough working guns not to have filled out on just one of the bunches. Drop dead gorgeous over the water in the sun.

[Rick]

Thanks for sharing the log and pics Rick.

My sympathies to you and yours as well.

Thank you.

[Flightstopper]

Would love to witness speck day at the mudhole.

Yes, you would have. Birds just took a fit to work to it like field and got themselves shot trying to land it. No reason other than not enough working guns not to have filled out on just one of the bunches. Drop dead gorgeous over the water in the sun.

If I'd only known I could have been another gun there to miss the big flock all over again.

Condolences to the family Rick.

[Rick]

Thank you.