2023-2024 preseason...

[Rick]

Here's a link to a page (scroll down) with a few podcasts discussing duck telemetry work with TN's Bradley Cohen that may, or may not, be of interest to some here: https://www.refugeforums.com/threads/transmitter-mallard-study-in-tn.1094232/page-23

[Darren]

Thanks for sharing, will keep in mind for next time I've got some driving on tap.

[Darren]

Had BBWD's using a wood duck box in the yard along False River at camp we stayed at all weekend. Daughter pointed out what she thought which one was the male vs the female of two we routinely saw, and it struck me that I actually hadn't a clue of how to tell one from the other in hand during a hunt, muchless on the wing.

Ever get any insight on that?

[Rick]

Only that you could always spread their little legs apart and check the cloaca for boy or girl parts.

[Rick]

DIY squealer call:

[DComeaux]

Has the correct tone.

[Rick]

Heard long ago about South American guides drilling old style bottle caps and gluing them together into whistles, but don't know that I'd heard of that fellow's shell brass method. Haydel's quite similar squirrel whistle is as spot-on squealer as can be, just won't get real loud or chatter.

[Duck Engr]

Cool, thanks for posting Rick!

[Rick]

Nest spotter flew the marshes we pick in this area today and says our marsh's boat runs are dry, which really, really sucks. May close the door on next season regardless of lease issues...

[Duck Engr]

That due to water control structure manipulation or drought?

[Rick]

Almost certainly our drought, as they've been trying to hold the IC higher than before the past few years. Said by some to avoid otherwise needed dredging. Dunno, but this is the lowest it's been in perhaps 10 or so years.

[BGkirk]

Almost certainly our drought, as they've been trying to hold the IC higher than before the past few years. Said by some to avoid otherwise needed dredging. Dunno, but this is the lowest it's been in perhaps 10 or so years.

How does one hold the IC higher ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rick]

How does one hold the IC higher ?

The Corp's lock system largely regulates what runoff gets out to the Gulf.

[Darren]

Bummed to hear of the dry boat runs in the marsh. Could see a recharge with the right weather pattern, I'm hoping for you at least. The promised big rain chances lately haven't done much for my plants, though.

Lake Arthur made the Baton Rouge news this morning with their pit bull ban lift:

https://www.kplctv.com/2023/07/06/pit-b ... ke-arthur/

Can't say I knew there was such a ban but figure you may have known something of it.

[Duck Engr]

May be none of my business and that’s fine if you say so Rick, but do you have any other gigs in the works in case the mudhole doesn’t pan out this fall?

[Rick]

May be none of my business and that’s fine if you say so Rick, but do you have any other gigs in the works in case the mudhole doesn’t pan out this fall?

Strongly suspect I'll be out of a blind this season, as I'll not leave Doug's until his widow, Miss Mary, gives up on it and don't want to find another spot I'd have to renege on should things work out for our marsh. That, and decent spots don't often open up. Sure would like to see some hope or resolution, one way or the other, before much longer. But know it will just have to go as it goes...

[SpinnerMan]

If something does work out, let me know. I would like to get down and hunt with you and should be able to make it this fall and should be able to bring 2 or 3 buddies with me or maybe split it with some others here to meet some other guys.

[Rick]

If something does work out, let me know. I would like to get down and hunt with you and should be able to make it this fall and should be able to bring 2 or 3 buddies with me or maybe split it with some others here to meet some other guys.

Reckon I'll post it here if I'm guiding, but you might have to nudge me again about coming down then. Never was the sharpest knife in the drawer and getting duller by the day.

[Rick]

Bummed to hear of the dry boat runs in the marsh. Could see a recharge with the right weather pattern, I'm hoping for you at least. The promised big rain chances lately haven't done much for my plants, though.

Lake Arthur made the Baton Rouge news this morning with their pit bull ban lift:

https://www.kplctv.com/2023/07/06/pit-b ... ke-arthur/

Can't say I knew there was such a ban but figure you may have known something of it.

Never knew they voted on it, just know it was never enforced. Didn't even know there was a ban until a then-new neighbor made a point of explaining that his first dog wasn't a pit but a dogo (sort of a giant pit). That dog and I made our peace pretty dang quickly, but a pit (or pit-cross) pup out of it has it in for us and goes nuts when we pull in the drive, are in the yard or even pass a window where he can see it. Asshole has broken our privacy fence twice, but being otherwise good neighbors with a nice little boy's pet has spared it to date...

[Rick]

Had a fellow ask me if we would fish the gators in the marsh he hunts before teal season, which thinking, but not knowing, teal would begin on the 9th, in order to end on its traditional last full weekend of September, prompted me to check the regs and learn it will open on Friday, the 15th, and close on Saturday the 30th. Will make getting their gators fished prior a possibility, but screws the weekenders out of a day - unless they suffer teal flu that Friday.

Also set me to thinking about September teal, watching a clip I'd made of them working the mudhole, and developing some of that teal fever stuff myself - with the potential cure still a couple months away.

Darren, we're supposed to pick your in-law's inlaw's marsh and the one to its west in the morning.

[Darren]

Roger that, curious what their water situation is. Expected to be same as Lulu's or they have different controls in place to work with?

Though we've got one "booked" for this season, given the current state of it all, sure glad I've got videos from last year's teal trip at the mudhole. Probably should refrain from watching them so as not to spark that flu just yet.

Then again, I've got a box of sparkling new spoons and pins here in my office right now and pre-rigs already made at my house for them, and lightly penciled plans to head north to ag land this weekend for a morning. So maybe the fever never left, or early onset.

Personally love the Friday teal openers (like in '17), great to kick it off with three hunts instead of two.

[DComeaux]

Something you're getting ready to do.

[Rick]

Roger that, curious what their water situation is.

It's low, but there is still water in Mallard Bay's duck ponds and some of their boat trails, and some of the boat trails would be problematic or impassable without more water.

[Rick]

Something you're getting ready to do.

He left out this part:

[Duck Engr]

It always looks easier on TV

[Rick]

It always looks easier on TV

Is usually easier when the stick, instead of the camera, is in my right hand.

[Rick]

Nest spotter flew the marshes we pick in this area today and says our marsh's boat runs are dry...

Finally picked our marsh yesterday and found it pretty low but not that dang low. Be a bear and a half to get a boat in at the launch just now and little doubt have to grind out some of the shallow trail between the more easterly blinds and mine, but theirs are all fine. West to the back blind could be "problematic," but the marsh isn't nearly so bad as 2010 and 2011.

[Duck Engr]

That’s encouraging to hear Rick. Any movement on the hunting operation yet?

[Darren]

Great to hear !!

[PorkChop]

I really enjoyed those videos thanks for sharing!!!