2019-2020 Season Log

[DComeaux]

Date: 11/24/2019

Hunters: Me and Blake

Cloud Cover: Clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: Light ENE

Temperature: Upper to mid 40's?

Waterfowl Activity: Empty skies

Waterfowl Responsiveness:

Birds total and by Species: (3) 1 gadwall 2 GW teal

Guns were very quiet this morning even with many out in the marsh. We we're convinced we'd not shoot this morning until 4 GW made a pass over the blind. We actually worked a pair of gadwall late in the morning which seemed easy with no gunfire on this somewhat still morning to push them off . The two back blinds on our lease did not hunt this morning.
I had the wife to pick up a case of Vienna sausage today to cover the long mornings to come in the blind. I also had her pick up a half gallon of Jim Beam. Looks like It's going to be a long one.

[DComeaux]

Flushed a flock of cedar waxwing from my trees this morning. Seems a bit early to be hearing that familiar late winter sound.

[Darren]

Flushed a flock of cedar waxwing from my trees this morning. Seems a bit early to be hearing that familiar late winter sound.

Can’t say I know what that is, DC

[Ducaholic]

Flushed a flock of cedar waxwing from my trees this morning. Seems a bit early to be hearing that familiar late winter sound.

A male with a pellet gun was a trophy! Good sign!

[DComeaux]

Flushed a flock of cedar waxwing from my trees this morning. Seems a bit early to be hearing that familiar late winter sound.

A male with a pellet gun was a trophy! Good sign!

LOL!! Make a fine jambalaya, so I've heard.

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[DComeaux]

Date: 11/29/2019

Hunters: Me and Blake

Cloud Cover: Fairly low thick overcast

Wind Direction and Velocity: 5 to 10 ESE

Temperature: Low 60's

Waterfowl Activity: Saw many high flights ( in the low soup) west to east and north to south. Large wads of pintail at times. The flights were fairly constant from 7:30 to 8:30. Most we've seen to date.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: We had a few grays and others break but pull off and climb when reaching the edge of the spread.

Birds total and by Species: (1) BW teal



I fired twice this morning, once on this teal and a desperation shot on a pintail hen coming over the blind alone. Those were the only shots fired at our blind. Very quiet around us except for an occasional volley here and there. We picked up all but a couple of dozen decoys and spread most of those out in a desperation pattern on the west side of the blind. I'm really just grasping at straws, cause we really don't have birds to play with.
No one we talked with did worth a hoot. One group that hunts managed stuff just down the road from us took 1 yesterday and they slept in this morning. I'm pretty sure our highlight tomorrow will be checking the crab traps.

Was surprised to see him in full plumage in November. I saw his full colors in flight.

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[Duck Engr]

That’s a beauty for sure

[Darren]

Really nice one!

[DComeaux]

Date: 11/30/2019

Hunters: Me and Blake

Cloud Cover: Mostly clear with few high clouds

Wind Direction and Velocity: SE wind 10 to 15

Temperature: 70 when driving out this morning.

Waterfowl Activity: Saw some high flights again but not as many as yesterday. We got more attention and closer approaches to the smaller spread but they'd get banged out before they got right every damn time. We had a 5 or 6 bird group of grays sneak in from the north low level while I was standing with a fried sac-a-lait morsel in one hand and a dr pepper in the other. Blake was sitting and didn't see them approach. They grabbed the wind when they saw me and we just watched them leave.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Most seem to be call shy, even with soft stuff. The mottled liked it though.

Birds total and by Species: (1) Mottled Duck

[Darren]

We had a 5 or 6 bird group of grays sneak in from the north low level while I was standing with a fried sac-a-lait morsel in one hand and a dr pepper in the other. Blake was sitting and didn't see them approach. They grabbed the wind when they saw me and we just watched them leave.

If you get some working grays, (if you haven't already) try wigeon whistling them and also I kind of run my Haydel's MP-90 with like mallard drake grunts in bursts and it imitates them really well, very similar sound to the big Duck Commander gadwall call. Been working well for us to turn around close birds headed away and sell them in close when on the approach.

[BGkirk]

I’ll second Darren on the Widgeon whistle. Whenever everyone else is whaling on a mallard call ive used Widgeon whistle with great success


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[Duck Engr]

Whoa hey hey easy now. Don’t be giving away the weejohn whistle trick!

[DComeaux]

We had a 5 or 6 bird group of grays sneak in from the north low level while I was standing with a fried sac-a-lait morsel in one hand and a dr pepper in the other. Blake was sitting and didn't see them approach. They grabbed the wind when they saw me and we just watched them leave.

If you get some working grays, (if you haven't already) try wigeon whistling them and also I kind of run my Haydel's MP-90 with like mallard drake grunts in bursts and it imitates them really well, very similar sound to the big Duck Commander gadwall call. Been working well for us to turn around close birds headed away and sell them in close when on the approach.

I think we tried everything in the bag of tricks, and some that weren't.

[DComeaux]

Date: 12/01/2019

Hunters: Me and Blake

Cloud Cover: Few clouds early clearing early in the hunt

Wind Direction and Velocity: NW 5

Temperature: Low 60's

Waterfowl Activity: Blake and I both agree that this was the poorest morning of the season thus far. The skies were empty.

Waterfowl Responsiveness:

Birds total and by Species: DNS

I made several texts and phone calls this morning checking with other hunters I know and know of in the area and it's all the same reports of nothing. Many of the camps on my drive in and out are empty as is our camp community, one actually packed up and pulled out this weekend. Regardless, Blake and I will keep moving forward and we're both looking forward to being back in the blind.

Look at the early morning enthusiasm we have.

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Rick, If we ever get a few ducks Blake and I will try your go to.

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[Rick]

I resemble that pic.

[Ducaholic]

Dave, it might be time to try and find another lease or just accept it for what it is and enjoy the crabbing, shrimping. and fishing.

[DComeaux]

Dave, it might be time to try and find another lease or just accept it for what it is and enjoy the crabbing, shrimping. and fishing.

I'm growing tired of looking and moving, and though the things you mention are fun, for me duck hunting was the main reason for the expense of the camp. It's damn near impossible to just stumble upon something productive that's open. The thing is, we're not alone in our duck drought in this area, a large area with varying marsh types. We'll see what the second split brings, and as of now, will probably do another season (2020-2021) in that blind.

The tides have been unseasonably high for us this year and we're holding way too much water. The worst part is there ain't a dam thing we can do about it. If we keep this high water going into next summer we may have nothing but a large open body of water on the entire property. This would seal our fate with this place.

I'm afraid my duck hunting days are numbered.

[Ducaholic]

Dave, it might be time to try and find another lease or just accept it for what it is and enjoy the crabbing, shrimping. and fishing.

I'm growing tired of looking and moving, and though the things you mention are fun, for me duck hunting was the main reason for the expense of the camp. It's damn near impossible to just stumble upon something productive that's open. The thing is, we're not alone in our duck drought in this area, a large area with varying marsh types. We'll see what the second split brings, and as of now, will probably do another season (2020-2021) in that blind.

The tides have been unseasonably high for us this year and we're holding way too much water. The worst part is there ain't a dam thing we can do about it. If we keep this high water going into next summer we may have nothing but a large open body of water on the entire property. This would seal our fate with this place.

I'm afraid my duck hunting days are numbered.

Good Luck!

[BGkirk]

Side note about high tides, I’ve found a place on public land that must have more tidal influence as the Widgeon grass is abundant and the gadwall are too. I’ve not been able to make a real successful hunt as I’m learning the area but it makes me feel better that if we or people like you Dave, had the habitat we would have the ducks.


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[Darren]

Side note about high tides, I’ve found a place on public land that must have more tidal influence as the Widgeon grass is abundant and the gadwall are too. I’ve not been able to make a real successful hunt as I’m learning the area but it makes me feel better that if we or people like you Dave, had the habitat we would have the ducks.
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Best pond we have for grays on the lease has one thing the other ponds dont......widgeon grass

[DComeaux]

Date: 12/07/2019

Hunters: Me and Blake

Cloud Cover: Clear early Clouds rolling in during the hunt

Wind Direction and Velocity: NW 5 -10 turning NNE later in the hunt

Temperature: 55

Waterfowl Activity: Very few birds seen

Waterfowl Responsiveness: They just came.

Birds total and by Species: (7) 4 GW 2 Spoonbill 1 gadwall

Had a few bunches of GW streaking through right at LST and some high grays and teal seen later in the hunt. We hunted until 9:30. The roads were empty this morning with very few vehicles parked along the road at the usual spots. It's eerily quiet down here.

Blake with the mornings bounty

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Shrimp and crab stew tonight for all lease members

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Ellie was sure happy to make a few retrieves this morning

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Made a little breakfast after plucking the ducks.

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[Duck Engr]

I tell you what, win or lose on the ducks, DC always eats good!

[Rick]

Has me wondering about crab omelets...

[Darren]

Looks like a winner to me, DC

[Ducaholic]

Well done!

[DComeaux]

Date: 12/08/2019

Hunters: Me and Blake

Cloud Cover: Mostly Clear

Wind Direction and Velocity: Light east wind

Temperature: 47 on the drive out

Waterfowl Activity: Saw a few flocks of pintail and gadwall coming high from the north. The one teal snuck in and landed just after LST and we flushed it....and that is all we had.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Nothing to respond

Birds total and by Species: (1) GW

We shut down just before 8 and picked up the decoys. The two blinds south of us had 1 hunter each with both talking 2 birds. Yesterday the lease holders blind DNS and the other took one. Our camp neighbors hunt north of 82 in different locations and they're seeing and doing the same as we are. We rolled out around 10 this morning and between Grand Chenier and Pecan Island there were several mud boat shed locations with vehicles still parked on the road.

Our water is finally low, really low, and I hope it stays that way. This weekend is the first time we've heard (very few) GW and gadwall lounging in an un-hunted section to our east during the hunt. Hopefully the two week break and the low water will translate into more fowl for us during the second split.

The pot after the feeding frenzy following the LSU game last night.... The Saints stress me OUT!

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[DComeaux]

Teal Season
8- Blue wing - 6 hunts

First Split numbers
2 - Mottled Ducks
4 - Scaup
4 - Blue wing
11 -Green Wing
10- Spoonbill
1 - Pintail
2 - Mallards
3 - gadwall

First split total only - 37 birds -13 hunts

2017- 2018 season we were at this first split number on opening weekend. 4 man limit opening day, 3 man limit on Sunday. Last year we exceeded this number in 4 hunts.

[Darren]

That's one legit stew you had there, DC. Got me thinking on doing another one myself for CZ 2nd split opener.

[DComeaux]

That's one legit stew you had there, DC. Got me thinking on doing another one myself for CZ 2nd split opener.

It was sooooo good. I'm ready for more.

[Deltaman]

Dammit man,looks delicious! No starving at your camp Dave