Ducaholic wrote:If we are going to have 3 zones stagger the damn season dates and splits so who ever chooses to zone hop can have max number of days to hunt. That is what the intended purpose was when we went 3 zones 5 years ago and that's the way it was until Courville stuck his nose in it!
Darren wrote:Ducaholic wrote:If we are going to have 3 zones stagger the damn season dates and splits so who ever chooses to zone hop can have max number of days to hunt. That is what the intended purpose was when we went 3 zones 5 years ago and that's the way it was until Courville stuck his nose in it!
That's the way it has been for CZ and EZ, and it creates the very problem I outlined above on my end and also reportedly makes for issues in SW La rice country because 14 is the boundary and the birds just op north of 14 when the shooting starts in CZ. Rick can chime in on that matter, have seen a lot of complaining online of it for sure.
Ducaholic wrote:Coastal Zone would be everything south of US Highway 190 from Texas to Mississippi. That puts all of the Marsh in La. where it should be in the Coastal Zone.
East and West Zone would be split by Highway 167 from the Arkansas line to Opelousas where it intersects with US Highway 190. There would be some habitat similarities along the line but you gotta draw a line somewhere and for simplicity's sake major highways are the best fit IMO.
Rick wrote:Ducaholic wrote:Coastal Zone would be everything south of US Highway 190 from Texas to Mississippi. That puts all of the Marsh in La. where it should be in the Coastal Zone.
East and West Zone would be split by Highway 167 from the Arkansas line to Opelousas where it intersects with US Highway 190. There would be some habitat similarities along the line but you gotta draw a line somewhere and for simplicity's sake major highways are the best fit IMO.
I'd be good with those zones, if not for it still leaving our end of the Coastal Zone battling over how early to start, which drawing the Coastal Zone boundary along the Intracoastal could help eliminate. Courville's lease and those in the very heel of the boot could still have their early birds, and the rest of us could wait for ours to show. So it goes...
Ducaholic wrote:Darren wrote:Ducaholic wrote:If we are going to have 3 zones stagger the damn season dates and splits so who ever chooses to zone hop can have max number of days to hunt. That is what the intended purpose was when we went 3 zones 5 years ago and that's the way it was until Courville stuck his nose in it!
That's the way it has been for CZ and EZ, and it creates the very problem I outlined above on my end and also reportedly makes for issues in SW La rice country because 14 is the boundary and the birds just op north of 14 when the shooting starts in CZ. Rick can chime in on that matter, have seen a lot of complaining online of it for sure.
There is no perfect solution and there will always be people bitching. What I am alluding to specifically is Courville didn't want anyone opening prior to the Coastal Zone. There is a large contingent of hunters in NW La. that would like to open the first Sat. of November and hunt as much as possible early when the earliest migrators were on there way to SW La.
Here's how it could work without all the crooked lines that the commission demanded because their buddies wanted options. Specifically Commissioner Manuel was guilty of this.
Coastal Zone would be everything south of US Highway 190 from Texas to Mississippi. That puts all of the Marsh in La. where it should be in the Coastal Zone.
East and West Zone would be split by Highway 167 from the Arkansas line to Opelousas where it intersects with US Highway 190. There would be some habitat similarities along the line but you gotta draw a line somewhere and for simplicity's sake major highways are the best fit IMO.
Ducaholic wrote: I think you still have to consider the health of the sport
DComeaux wrote:Ducaholic wrote: I think you still have to consider the health of the sport
I think this is a main issue. The health of waterfowl is being pushed aside and trampled for the dollar. As you've mentioned in the past, it's going to take the bottom falling out to see change if this continues, just like our current virus issue. It shouldn't have to come to that.
DComeaux wrote:Ducaholic wrote: I think you still have to consider the health of the sport
I think this is a main issue. The health of waterfowl is being pushed aside and trampled for the dollar. As you've mentioned in the past, it's going to take the bottom falling out to see change if this continues, just like our current virus issue. It shouldn't have to come to that.
Darren wrote:DComeaux wrote:Ducaholic wrote: I think you still have to consider the health of the sport
I think this is a main issue. The health of waterfowl is being pushed aside and trampled for the dollar. As you've mentioned in the past, it's going to take the bottom falling out to see change if this continues, just like our current virus issue. It shouldn't have to come to that.
Officially published data says the pops are doing great; why all of the sudden are we concerned for the birds' well being in trek northward? Are they struggling? Habitat up the heart of the flyway (basically everything BUT our coast) is better than ever, as we know too well. Short of evidence to the contrary, I don't see this as a big factor. Well, unless you don't believe the numbers published.............in which case we have a much, MUCH larger issue at hand.......and that contingent seems to be growing.
I'd rather not hunt till the end primarily because I'm burned out and the birds are smarter, just doesn't make for an ideal combination for enjoyment of getting up early, the drives, the expenses, etc. compared to earlier in season.
Darren wrote:Yea I dont want those end of season days either, THOUGH we've had some success in Bunkie when birds were on the farm and/or weather was coming through at end of season (Jan 2018 was good until ALMOST the last day, when DC came and brought the black cloud on us.....but did help pick up decoys, what a guy!?)
In the marsh, its often mud flats and birds on bays. I see them in the dark jumping up around the boat when running across some big lagoons heading to the blind, show up in the spotlight!
But as I'm sure you've seen on FB, there's a contingent, well really just one particularly vocal one on my end, that wants to hunt the marsh to the last day in January because he says he historically has done well. Sooo lots are saying they want early, some are saying they want late, sure doesn't make for a fun time at Larry's office.
PS: DC, you given any more thought to going in together on LPI club? If you buy it, I promise to come do some work days.
DComeaux wrote:Darren wrote:PS: DC, you given any more thought to going in together on LPI club? If you buy it, I promise to come do some work days.
I think I'll pass on that one. I heard tell that is was disgruntled released employees making noise.
Agree with you on missing 2 weeks in Dec. it gives me a good break for a weekend but there’s usually a front I’m wishing I was hunting during that timeDarren wrote:Ducaholic wrote:Darren wrote:Ducaholic wrote:If we are going to have 3 zones stagger the damn season dates and splits so who ever chooses to zone hop can have max number of days to hunt. That is what the intended purpose was when we went 3 zones 5 years ago and that's the way it was until Courville stuck his nose in it!
That's the way it has been for CZ and EZ, and it creates the very problem I outlined above on my end and also reportedly makes for issues in SW La rice country because 14 is the boundary and the birds just op north of 14 when the shooting starts in CZ. Rick can chime in on that matter, have seen a lot of complaining online of it for sure.
There is no perfect solution and there will always be people bitching. What I am alluding to specifically is Courville didn't want anyone opening prior to the Coastal Zone. There is a large contingent of hunters in NW La. that would like to open the first Sat. of November and hunt as much as possible early when the earliest migrators were on there way to SW La.
Here's how it could work without all the crooked lines that the commission demanded because their buddies wanted options. Specifically Commissioner Manuel was guilty of this.
Coastal Zone would be everything south of US Highway 190 from Texas to Mississippi. That puts all of the Marsh in La. where it should be in the Coastal Zone.
East and West Zone would be split by Highway 167 from the Arkansas line to Opelousas where it intersects with US Highway 190. There would be some habitat similarities along the line but you gotta draw a line somewhere and for simplicity's sake major highways are the best fit IMO.
Something like 190 could likely work, but I think it terminates in Covington, La going east, so what's boundary from there to MS border? Though some wouldn't like it locally (and old me preferred it the way it is to extend season), the true correct way to manage that area is to have ALL marsh in the same (COASTAL) zone. So it could even be I-12 for that matter since no marsh above that.
We've usually had birds for what's usually the first FULL weekend in November, but last year I could see the allure of waiting one more week to the 14th or so, thereabouts, and open EZ on weekend before Thanksgiving per the usual there.
I do not like losing two full weeks in December in the CZ, take it off the end of the season, any season you want. Log says it's usually not good. Thankfully we will not open EZ with specks off limits this year, I can still see those jokers pouring into the field and fluttering over the blind on 12/17/2019.
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