DComeaux wrote:2015... heat to the Canadian border at this time.
Apparently record heat. At least what I showed in the Fargo forecast seemed halfway seasonable, even if it didn't include blizzard warnings
We'll take that!
DComeaux wrote:2015... heat to the Canadian border at this time.
Duck Engr wrote:And if my 2015 memory serves me right we had a really big artic front just at the right time in November and did really well for our opener. Suppose all that to mean the temps right now don't mean much of diddly but some chilly weather wouldn't hurt my feelings! Would definitely help me get in the hunting season mood.
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Darren wrote:All good news coming off the weekend; front made it through today as advertised with a significant punch and legit north winds. Report off the lease from Saturday's blind build was all ponds were found to be in good shape and the blinds still there with no obvious impacts from Hurricane Nate. Water has been lingering on the high side because we haven't had a good wind direction to let it out from the storm just yet but this front should help a bit.
With today's frontal passage got first report of grays and teal showing in the greater Delacroix area. In the spirit of the reported grays arriving, wanted to share a few new faces that will go to work in a few weeks. I believe these to be the most accurately colored grays on the market right now, from Avian X. They are not as "rubbery" as I recall of some of the first runs a few years back, in which I had concerns of them caving in since shell was pretty soft, and seem like the color should be very durable; awfully nice in hand and should serve us well next month.
Ericdc wrote:Darren wrote:All good news coming off the weekend; front made it through today as advertised with a significant punch and legit north winds. Report off the lease from Saturday's blind build was all ponds were found to be in good shape and the blinds still there with no obvious impacts from Hurricane Nate. Water has been lingering on the high side because we haven't had a good wind direction to let it out from the storm just yet but this front should help a bit.
With today's frontal passage got first report of grays and teal showing in the greater Delacroix area. In the spirit of the reported grays arriving, wanted to share a few new faces that will go to work in a few weeks. I believe these to be the most accurately colored grays on the market right now, from Avian X. They are not as "rubbery" as I recall of some of the first runs a few years back, in which I had concerns of them caving in since shell was pretty soft, and seem like the color should be very durable; awfully nice in hand and should serve us well next month.
I run some Avery pro grade gadwalls. I think those and the avian X are the top 2 by far. Great coloring and poses.
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Darren wrote:Ericdc wrote:Darren wrote:All good news coming off the weekend; front made it through today as advertised with a significant punch and legit north winds. Report off the lease from Saturday's blind build was all ponds were found to be in good shape and the blinds still there with no obvious impacts from Hurricane Nate. Water has been lingering on the high side because we haven't had a good wind direction to let it out from the storm just yet but this front should help a bit.
With today's frontal passage got first report of grays and teal showing in the greater Delacroix area. In the spirit of the reported grays arriving, wanted to share a few new faces that will go to work in a few weeks. I believe these to be the most accurately colored grays on the market right now, from Avian X. They are not as "rubbery" as I recall of some of the first runs a few years back, in which I had concerns of them caving in since shell was pretty soft, and seem like the color should be very durable; awfully nice in hand and should serve us well next month.
I run some Avery pro grade gadwalls. I think those and the avian X are the top 2 by far. Great coloring and poses.
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I'm a fan of the Avery Pro Grades, have been running a doz and a half of them with no complaints. They are a little on the lighter side of reality as far as the backs, but the postures are really nice and they kill ducks. This switch was more out of a desire to tweak something to be excited to try in a new season as much as anything else.
DComeaux wrote:HA!.. most of my decoys I've been having since the late 80's early 90's. Mud dauber nest stuck to some and in bad need of paint. We did acquire a few dozen used from a couple of people that are a bit younger. I hate paying the big money for decoys today. I remember complaining when I saw a dozen flambeau mallards @ $45.00. I see you can get a dozen storm front for $70.00.
Darren wrote:Also Academy's Game Winner brand has come a long way with realism and durability at a really low price, especially at end of season. Only knock there is that they tend to be on the smaller size compared to other brands
Rick wrote:Darren wrote:Also Academy's Game Winner brand has come a long way with realism and durability at a really low price, especially at end of season. Only knock there is that they tend to be on the smaller size compared to other brands
Can't speak to paint durability, but I was pleasantly surprised by the construction quality of Game Winner's coots. Doesn't hurt my purpose a bit that they're gallinule sized.
DComeaux wrote:We had purchased a few dozen game winner as fillers 7 years ago when we got the rice blind and I think we may have a half dozen or less remaining today. Very fragile, rot and crack quickly.
We did get a dozen fancy pintail dekes a couple of three years ago to add a splash of color. I'd also like more coot decoys,and might have to break down and get the high dollar ones.
I'd sure like a few dozen of those purdy gray decoys you have. I'd pull the majority of the mallards from the spread for those. I'll probably break down in the next season or two and revamp the spread. It's just this years cost of getting set up was a bit high and hasn't ended, yet.
Darren wrote:Rick wrote:Darren wrote:Also Academy's Game Winner brand has come a long way with realism and durability at a really low price, especially at end of season. Only knock there is that they tend to be on the smaller size compared to other brands
Can't speak to paint durability, but I was pleasantly surprised by the construction quality of Game Winner's coots. Doesn't hurt my purpose a bit that they're gallinule sized.
They should suit your use fine; only issue I had with one was sand-filled keel cap popped off and dumped the sand, likely from the rigors of loading and unloading in my boat, rough boat rides, etc. ......issues you don't have
Darren wrote:A fellow gray duck specialist!
Usually have run the coots but not so much on the Delacroix lease, just don't see many of them. Public lands further north of there, we'd routinely see huge rafts of them and the grays love them.
As for the butts, shhhhhhh, that's a secret. See a portion of my typical spread below with a front line rolling in. I've historically used the G&H Pintail butts with the pins cropped, though these are very expensive. They are very durable and are out there each hunt. Tried the Tanglefree versions last year at less than half the price, had a few issues with keels being too light and that netted me extra butts for free, thanks to their customer service. To me you have to have something for visibility because gadwall dekes just blend into the pond. So I run a handful of butts and also few pintail drakes to help with visibility
Photo below is raft of loafing grays I scouted, can easily see the white butts when you view it full size
Jury is still very much out on my Flock A Flicker review. Used them for teal with no discernible difference, and they're just not really what I'm going for in my marsh spread, dont want any flashing. I am, however, curious to try them in the rice
Marsh Bear wrote:We bought some Academy Game Winner decoys last year - we leave our decoys out all season - and by the end of the season most of the paint had faded and we had pink decoys.
Ericdc wrote:Simmons has a deal on right now.
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Darren wrote:A buddy visited the Bunkie area field yesterday late afternoon; only a few ducks seen but also "four or five groups of 50+ geese"
Tentatively planning to head up there a day next weekend for some camp work
Darren wrote:Received a number of video clips from a friend of a friend today in Grand Chenier area marshes, north of the highway. Lots and lots of little ducks
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