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Headed to the promise land last Thursday morning, for a long weekend in the marsh South of Venice. Despite having truck issues in Belle Chase that put us 3 hours and $600 behind, we made it to Venice Marina and down to the camp off of Pass A Loutre before 2:00 p.m. Unloaded and made a quick scouting trip, and were very disappointed at the low numbers of ducks we found in the marsh, and headed back to camp before dark for some camp wasp killing. Damn things had invaded, and the warm temps were not helping. Up early enough on Friday to spend a couple of hours continuing our scout, and happened upon a decent number before 8:00. Set up on a small island with the sun and wind at our backs, and it was on. Didn't take'm long to return, mostly teal and grays, and they worked to stool as they should. Picked up a limit (7 grays, 4 bw teal, 3 gw teal, 1 mottle, 2 shovellers and 1 bluebill), before 11:00 a.m., and headed back to camp for grass/marsh cutting chores, then a late afternoon scout. Up Saturday morning before daylight and back to the same area. Winds were still blowing strong out of the NE, but temps still only made it down to low 60's, and today was overcast. The birds did not want to finish, despite changing spread several times and making sure we were covered up well enough, but we still had a good hunt, killing 15 birds (12 grays, 2 mottles and 1 bw teal). Back to camp for a big lunch and some rest. Several hours in a pirogue pushed up into the canes, had the muscles in my back screaming for relief! Made time for a scouting trip for our Sunday hunt, and the a.m. found us pushed into the canes with the mosquitos looking for breakfast. Almost no wind blowing, and not as many birds in the air. Stayed until 9:00 and picked up decoys with 8 birds (5 grays, 2 widgeon and 1 drake pintail). back to camp for a final clean up and the 40 minute ride north to Venice, then our 5 hour trip back to Mobile, AL......flat "wo out". As always, one of the best duck hunts of the year for me, and despite the low bird numbers, still way more birds than we get here.

Very nice! Have pics? Some buddies have gone the last two weekends and did really well with same mix of birds; no idea where they actually hunt but pretty sure it's on the public piece(s). Never been myself, on the to-do list. Just hard to get all the way down there when I can hunt only an hour from my house in my hometown.

When are you opening in Mobile area?

Darren, unfortunately I took precious few photos with my camera, but will check to see if I can add a few. So nice to have such a large public area in LA, and even better to hunt with somebody that knows the lay of the land as far as what's public and what's private. Our opener here starts the day after Thanksgiving, and given the huge increase in the new Duck Commander crowd, it will be a zoo.........again!

A few pics I took @ Camp:

Capt T-Bone getting some camp yard work done between hunts


My podnas, MacDaddy and T-Bone @ camp after hunt relax


Only pic I took of ducks, Saturday morning's birds

Looks like a pretty nice camp.

Love those drake grays! Hoping to strap a few this weekend when we open on East Zone

Rick wrote:Looks like a pretty nice camp.

As far as a camp in the marsh, it is a Cadillac! 3 bedrooms w/ac, bathroom with flushing toilet, shower with hot water, and electricity via generator..........just about all the comforts of home with the exception of T.V.

Deltaman wrote:

Rick wrote:Looks like a pretty nice camp.

As far as a camp in the marsh, it is a Cadillac! 3 bedrooms w/ac, bathroom with flushing toilet, shower with hot water, and electricity via generator..........just about all the comforts of home with the exception of T.V.

paradise!

Deltaman wrote:

Rick wrote:Looks like a pretty nice camp.

As far as a camp in the marsh, it is a Cadillac! 3 bedrooms w/ac, bathroom with flushing toilet, shower with hot water, and electricity via generator..........just about all the comforts of home with the exception of T.V.

Dang...one tent, a cot, a bucket, coleman stove, a grill, and a 900 watt generator is all I got.
Truck has topper and a bed in the back for when it's chitty.
Y'all livin large in Louisiana. lol

duckinatorizer wrote:

Deltaman wrote:

Rick wrote:Looks like a pretty nice camp.

As far as a camp in the marsh, it is a Cadillac! 3 bedrooms w/ac, bathroom with flushing toilet, shower with hot water, and electricity via generator..........just about all the comforts of home with the exception of T.V.

Dang...one tent, a cot, a bucket, coleman stove, a grill, and a 900 watt generator is all I got.
Truck has topper and a bed in the back for when it's chitty.
Y'all livin large in Louisiana. lol

AB you need to upgrade like I did.

You bastard. I want that!
My ram is a 1500 with the shorter bed (I think), might not work.

aunt betty wrote:You bastard. I want that!
My ram is a 1500 with the shorter bed (I think), might not work.

They make smaller and lighter ones for 1/2 ton and short box trucks. You could fine one that is a pop-up style they are much lighter. Some air bags in the back would help too. When I went on my MI trip I saw a truck smaller than yours hauling one of the smaller ones. Mine only weighs around 2500lbs wet and full of my gear.

They are worth every penny if you travel a lot for ducks.

Olly wrote:

aunt betty wrote:You bastard. I want that!
My ram is a 1500 with the shorter bed (I think), might not work.

They make smaller and lighter ones for 1/2 ton and short box trucks. You could fine one that is a pop-up style they are much lighter. Some air bags in the back would help too. When I went on my MI trip I saw a truck smaller than yours hauling one of the smaller ones. Mine only weighs around 2500lbs wet and full of my gear.

They are worth every penny if you travel a lot for ducks.

$19,960 for a slide-in camper is more than the truck cost.
The pop-up one is $13,285.
http://truckcamperfanatic.com/what-truc ... -shortbed/

aunt betty wrote:

Olly wrote:

aunt betty wrote:You bastard. I want that!
My ram is a 1500 with the shorter bed (I think), might not work.

They make smaller and lighter ones for 1/2 ton and short box trucks. You could fine one that is a pop-up style they are much lighter. Some air bags in the back would help too. When I went on my MI trip I saw a truck smaller than yours hauling one of the smaller ones. Mine only weighs around 2500lbs wet and full of my gear.

They are worth every penny if you travel a lot for ducks.

$19,960 for a slide-in camper is more than the truck cost.
The pop-up one is $13,285.
http://truckcamperfanatic.com/what-truc ... -shortbed/

I paid 3k for mine used. It's in perfect condition.

Stay on craigslist and you'll find one.

Then when you get to do this after a long day of early hunting it's amazing.

I got a camper already but not like yours.

Oh yea? This is what I spent 3 weeks in on my 2014 trip to MI.

How many times you bang your head on the roof? Constantly wishing that my top was taller.