Preseason 2022-2023

[Darren]

More interesting southern US fall/winter weather fodder for any who might be interested, New Orleans meteorologist:

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So just saying that current pattern mirrors that of 1989 that allowed early cold blasts in October that also allowed colder blasts, even to extremes, in December. Will be interesting to follow along.....

Note: It hit 29 deg F yesterday morning near my hometown in St. Tammany Parish, SE La......that's nuts. Think it's earliest freeze on record.

[Ducaholic]

I recall the details of that Arctic Blast very well. Single digits lows for several days with highs in the low 20'S. All major bodies of water except the river systems froze solid.

[Deltaman]

I well remember that season too!!!! When that big December blast came through, the top layer of water froze as the tide got sucked out, and it left the ice in sheets at different layers in the shallower water. Was a sight to see, and as you mentioned, even in the middle of the day with the sun out, it never got above the 20's for 4-5 days.

[SpinnerMan]

I recall the details of that Arctic Blast very well. Single digits lows for several days with highs in the low 20'S. All major bodies of water except the river systems froze solid.

Me too.

My wife was in Florida. I came back up to goose hunt. Didn't go this day because I had to work. It was literally 100 degrees warmer. Nothing like having to warm up over 50 degrees to get to just freezing cold

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[DComeaux]

Once bitten, twice shy.

[MARSH BEAR]

I really don't want it to be cold like 1989, if so I would move up with Pork Chop. Way too cold for this old southern boy.

[Darren]

As an update to next week's outlook and beyond, generally appears to be moderating with temps on the milder side more typical of averages, maybe even above average for upper midwest. Also the rain maker for south Louisiana looking less and less like one, not good for those that really need it.

Still seeing some reports of "more specks than usual for this time" down here so hoping that bodes well for early ducks too. Looking like a youth hunt may be in our cards two weeks from tomorrow.

[Rick]

Still seeing some reports of "more specks than usual for this time" down here...

Damn shame that's become scarcely a shadow of "specks as usual". Am still hearing glowing teal reports from less trafficked spots.

[Ducaholic]

Darren you need to crank it up bro! Low for Vermillion SD for the next 15 days is 31. That won't cut it

[Darren]

Darren you need to crank it up bro! Low for Vermillion SD for the next 15 days is 31. That won't cut it

Yep, pattern does not show plunges for the next week or more, is what it is. Per Rick's videos, plainly early weather and ongoing drought are setting us up for early season just fine so I'll go with that for now.


On a positive note, got news yesterday the bunkie farm blind has water around it per farmer, and may have been rolled as well which would be super sweet for our interests. Going to try to head up that way one morning maybe next week to ground truth and do a little camp sprucing.

[Ducaholic]

Good Deal. I was told today that Big Ducks were showing up around WPA road!

[Darren]

Good Deal. I was told today that Big Ducks were showing up around WPA road!

That's "our" birds

Our flight comes from the south, and that's just south of the farm we hunt.

[Ducaholic]

Good Deal. I was told today that Big Ducks were showing up around WPA road!

That's "our" birds

Our flight comes from the south, and that's just south of the farm we hunt.

[Darren]

Looking ahead over next two weeks, pretty meager fronts to keep it fairly seasonable, not hot like some years of recent memory, just no plunges of cold either. Long range showing front right before west zone opener. Don't mind it being on the mild side for youth weekend coming up in just over a week.

[Ducaholic]

Looking ahead over next two weeks, pretty meager fronts to keep it fairly seasonable, not hot like some years of recent memory, just no plunges of cold either. Long range showing front right before west zone opener. Don't mind it being on the mild side for youth weekend coming up in just over a week.

More westerly flow I hope that changes soon

[Rick]

More westerly flow...

Grrr...

[Darren]

Still hoping flat boat maintenance welding is done today or early tomorrow to allow some blind work Sunday morning, very TBD at the moment.

Did receive a video from a friend this morning with some swarming-bee-like numbers of teal in the shallow areas of Delacroix, the end of it closer to the MS River and shallower, thus more known for teal.

Seeing some chills upcoming but they're fizzling before making it through us, a significant change from much of October unfortunately.

Next Sunday morning, for example

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[Darren]

Still without flat boat so took bay boat ride along Lake Borgne shoreline this morning around 7a and even cut in off of a large bayou with some good habitat off of it and putted around. Not a migrator to be seen, just handful of mottleds. Also dawned on me on way back to camp that no divers were present out on Lake B....would have thought I'd see some. Will went to his lease friday and saw plenty mottleds, but not a migrator. Without a flat boat, still haven't been able to get to our lease so no report there but the gnats were out and about at the camp thus reminding me that warm fall days bring the dreaded marsh gnats.

As a result, may well put our youth hunt plans in jeopardy given mild forecast this week coming and through next weekend. Sufficient wind could negate them, but TBD on what that might look like.

[Darren]

Update - Back in the game with the duck boat, version 2.0

After over 21 years of service, finally put a full floor in her, now with Hydro Turf

Before

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After

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Weather word of the week is "stale" with same easterly winds all week but seeing some hope in the form of some signals of significant systems for the following week in time for the opener and soon after it. In the mean time, temps well above average flyway-wide. Hang tight, it's very early in the game, folks, we just got ahead of ourselves with the early chill in October.

[Deltaman]

The boat looks great, and the Hydro Turf is a game changer on an aluminum boat. It won't absorb water, (or heat like bare aluminum), and provides traction and cushion to your arse and feet!!!! Hope the birds show up for your upcoming youth weekend.

[Ducaholic]

D...I see good weather arriving for the Coastal Opener if not Saturday by Sunday and Monday for sure

Turf is a game changer.

[Darren]

D...I see good weather arriving for the Coastal Opener if not Saturday by Sunday and Monday for sure

Turf is a game changer.

Yea seeing that one for sure, and at least a more moderate push earlier in the week. Local met was also noting "heat for this week but pattern change coming" so he's seeing the same.



Buddy visited bunkie area farm Saturday for some nice pre-season to-do's. Camp clean up, new switch for blind lights, weed eating around camp, etc. No birds on field but saw some nearby, including a farm pond a few hundred yards away that was full of teal and spoons.

Farm to the south

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blind front and back cuts, just so glad to see water

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[Darren]

The boat looks great, and the Hydro Turf is a game changer on an aluminum boat. It won't absorb water, (or heat like bare aluminum), and provides traction and cushion to your arse and feet!!!! Hope the birds show up for your upcoming youth weekend.

Ironically the work was done by a buddy who runs/owns Game Changer Boats. If you do social media, they're on there, good people, good product.

[Darren]

Hound dog and I finally got launched around 8am yesterday morning down on the marsh. Sure enough saw our first migrators while putting a serious dent in my favorite roseau patch with hedge trimmer, about 40 grays overhead. Made it on scene at lease and had probably 30-40 birds in the pond. Glassing before they flushed ID'd grays, mottleds, teal and what looked to be few pintail.

No traffic while hanging at the pond but got the brushing work done, then blazed and flagged the walk-in trail we'll use for hunt access to it. Harry had a ball being out and about. On boat ride back in saw another couple nice groups of grays but nothing in between which really is par for us. Water level was up a bit so feed in most of the marsh is submerged until low tide cycle so hard to tell what the latest condition of the food is. Nice to be out and see some arrivals.

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Got roseau in about how I wanted, then got to breaking it all over/inward-facing to get the height right at local grass level. Will bring in another couple of small bundles next friday

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Field tested new tool, E-Go's 56V hedge trimmer, hoping it would have even more oomph than my old standby 40V Black & Decker which has served us well. Give it a B+, seemed a little stronger though has a nice instant-stop safety feature and seems little heavier (weight) and heavier duty overall. Will keep it.

Had plans for youth hunt tomorrow but both my kids are under the weather now, so plug has been pulled on that idea. Hope to get them out sooner than later in the early season. With it being warm, alligators were active yesterday, saw quite a few pushing off banks into deep canals. Hoping chill late next week and beyond shuts that down.

[BGkirk]

Darren do ya walk to all the blinds ? Or do you ferry the guests there and then go park and profoundly back?


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[Darren]

Darren do ya walk to all the blinds ? Or do you ferry the guests there and then go park and profoundly back?

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This is only one we walk in to, the rest are largely drop off via flat boat then return in pirogue.

[Darren]

And speaking of the weather, it's looking awfully promising at the moment, with building confidence.

Note, this weekend's front is going to stall on us (see below) and not bring much for temperature change, but that's not to say that it wont offer help/move birds elsewhere on the flyway where it will be a fairly significant cool down.

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But I couldn't hardly script a more promising event for next Friday with a front bearing down on us in the afternoon, and appears to be through for Saturday morning, temps well below average from Canada to Creole.

Friday Nov 11 PM

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Saturday Nov 12- LA West Zone (and entire coast) Opening Day

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Won't detail the week after just yet for preparations of the LA East Zone opener, but so far it looks awfully promising as well.

[DComeaux]

Weeee doggie!

[Rick]

Meteorologists are such pranksters.

[Darren]

Noting here that I'm recovering from what may well be my first bout with full blown flu, my daughter brought home from school and it made its way through everyone including dad. While yesterday I was dead to the world, doing better today and still making the usual plans for this weekend's opener.

Only youth hunt report I got out of the area was "lots of teal" but that's interior delacroix where it's much shallower and indeed typically holds teal but not many big birds.

Front still looking good for this weekend with legit chill top to bottom on the flyway, Monday looking to be the coldest day. Sunday morning below:

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Still seeing reinforcing front the following week too leading up to EZ opener, TBD. Will be ready for big winds on Saturday