Regular Season

[Rick]

Certainly have.

[DComeaux]

I wish I could make this event.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/crclectures/event/crclecture01082026/

[DComeaux]

Date: 12/20/2025 Hunted a blind near Little Pecan

Cloud Cover - Clear

Direction and Velocity: none

Temperature: Cool

Moon phase: Dark

Waterfowl Activity: A lot of waterfowl moving. Saw many large high flocks.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: good

Hunters: Me, Blake, and Randal

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi. She did well on her retrieves this morning.

Special Equipment:

Curses: We didn't get to hunt long enough

Kudos:

Birds By Species: 2 wigeon 1 GW

I got a call mid-week asking if we'd like to hunt an open blind on this managed place I occasionally mention in my posts. The leaser of this property dropped us in a blind and went on to his blind. They finished by 7:30 and with mostly GW with a gadwall or two in the mix, we had nothing at that time. They gave us until 8 or 8:15 then picked us up. I have no doubt we'd have taken a limit if left to do so.
The most mix of duck species I've seen in a long time. We saw a few good straps from that lease, with most reports in our general area saying just two or three birds. The large high flocks I mention were coming from the north. I was told we're going back there in the morning, possibly in a different blind. We have a long initial boat ride then a transfer into another boat inside the compound. We may not kill many birds on our place, but I do enjoy the simplicity.

I wanted to add that I made a scotch double on our pair of wigeon. They came in as a pair.

[Darren]

Nice to get the dog work! We salvaged our junk hunt morning by introducing Indy to gunfire which appeared to have gone OK.

My displaced hometown buddy hunted over in that direction with a crew this morning.....30, huge mix of species from what I saw of the straps.

[DComeaux]

Date: 12/21/2025 Hunted a blind near Little Pecan

Cloud Cover - Dense Fog

Direction and Velocity: An occasional puff from the ENE

Temperature: warm and wet in the fog. These guys have a long run to their main levee, then a transfer into another boat to the blind.

Moon phase: Dark

Waterfowl Activity: Slow. Ones and twos at a time with an occasional small flock.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: They just appeared out of the fog.

Hunters: Me and Blake

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi. She worked well. We just need to keep taking birds.

Special Equipment:

Curses: The fog.

Kudos:

Birds By Species: 1 Gadwall 3 BW 4 GW

Again, our hosts blind made it to their limit before us, and we had to go. After the hunt Blake and I made a run to the crab traps near our blind to take what they had and add fresh bait. When we were pulling up, we watched a small group of gadwall work our decoys and a few minutes later another. Just minutes later a flock of 80 to 100 GW make a hard break, circled the blind with most landing in our hole in the decoys. This all happened at 10:00 AM with us motoring from trap to trap 60 to 80 yards from our blind. This all happened within a fifteen-minute period. We left immediately after tending the last trap. It gave me a little hope for next weekend. I'll be solo this weekend as Blake has family stuff to do. I may have the opportunity to make a hunt or two at the place we hunted this weekend, but Friday I will be at our blind. Randall may hunt with me on Friday.

Birds from three blinds with ours in the mix

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The blind we hunted both days

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I got a late start on this log due to "picken" crab meat from 54 crabs for a Christmas seafood gumbo. I also made a few people happy by gifting a few dozen crabs on the way home. We ended up with 12 to 14 dozen this weekend.

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[Rick]

When we were pulling up, we watched a small group of gadwall work our decoys and a few minutes later another. Just minutes later a flock of 80 to 100 GW make a hard break, circled the blind with most landing in our hole in the decoys. This all happened at 10:00 AM with us motoring from trap to trap 60 to 80 yards from our blind. This all happened within a fifteen-minute period.

Made me think of Christmas of '83, my first in SWLA. Had been hunting a lot with a Pecan Island crew that was always heading to brunch shortly after 8, win lose or draw, but was alone that morning, and decided to pass early divers, teal and grays to see what, if anything, showed mid morning. Turned out to be a big duck show.

[Darren]

Gooood night, that's going to be a serious "sea gumbo" as my daughter says. Glad yall got on some birds, but those crabs.....yowza!

My taxidermist sold me a jumbo crab he'd done last week so dad and I split it as a gift for my mom to hang in the camp, pretty cool!

[DComeaux]

When we were pulling up, we watched a small group of gadwall work our decoys and a few minutes later another. Just minutes later a flock of 80 to 100 GW make a hard break, circled the blind with most landing in our hole in the decoys. This all happened at 10:00 AM with us motoring from trap to trap 60 to 80 yards from our blind. This all happened within a fifteen-minute period.

Made me think of Christmas of '83, my first in SWLA. Had been hunting a lot with a Pecan Island crew that was always heading to brunch shortly after 8, win lose or draw, but was alone that morning, and decided to pass early divers, teal and grays to see what, if anything, showed mid morning. Turned out to be a big duck show.

I've always liked late mornings when things quieted down. I like working ducks, something we haven't been able to do in a long, long time. I've never been a pass shooter. Pulling a flock from the way high up gives me goose bumps.

[DComeaux]

Gooood night, that's going to be a serious "sea gumbo" as my daughter says. Glad yall got on some birds, but those crabs.....yowza!

My taxidermist sold me a jumbo crab he'd done last week so dad and I split it as a gift for my mom to hang in the camp, pretty cool!

This "sea gumbo" will be loaded. I'm seriously considering making fresh crab cakes crusted with panko for appetizers.

[Ducaholic]

Good Job DC all the way around

[Ericdc]

When we were pulling up, we watched a small group of gadwall work our decoys and a few minutes later another. Just minutes later a flock of 80 to 100 GW make a hard break, circled the blind with most landing in our hole in the decoys. This all happened at 10:00 AM with us motoring from trap to trap 60 to 80 yards from our blind. This all happened within a fifteen-minute period.

Made me think of Christmas of '83, my first in SWLA. Had been hunting a lot with a Pecan Island crew that was always heading to brunch shortly after 8, win lose or draw, but was alone that morning, and decided to pass early divers, teal and grays to see what, if anything, showed mid morning. Turned out to be a big duck show.

I've always liked late mornings when things quieted down. I like working ducks, something we haven't been able to do in a long, long time. I've never been a pass shooter. Pulling a flock from the way high up gives me goose bumps.

Me too. We killed most of our birds after 9 am Saturday and the geese started moving good after 10, we just weren't exactly where they wanted to be. North wind puts their flight path right over us though.

Late morning green wings are a treat!


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[DComeaux]

Date: 12/26/2025 Our blind

Cloud Cover - Fog. Fog lifted just before 10

Direction and Velocity: steady breeze from the SE turning SSW later

Temperature: Truck read 67

Moon phase: didn't see it

Waterfowl Activity: near nothing

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Ha!

Hunters: Solo. Just me .

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi came out of here kennel Christmas moring with a limp favoring a front leg. I have here with me but she's not hunting. Always something.

Special Equipment:

Curses: no waterfowl

Kudos:

Birds By Species: DNS
Very few shots heard this morning. I hunted until the fog lifted and an hour later. (10:30)
I had a few teal land in the decoys on a couple of ocassions before LST. I watched a female GW swim with the decoys for a half hour or so later in the morning. I heard a few gadwal throughout the morning on top of the fog. No waterfowl in our area.

This guy swam with and talked to the decoys for over an hour. I turned him with a brrr, he broke pretty and came in.

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[DComeaux]

Date: 12/26\7/2025 Our blind

Cloud Cover - Few clouds

Direction and Velocity: A puff from the SE

Temperature: upper 60's ?

Moon phase: didn't see it

Waterfowl Activity: near nothing

Waterfowl Responsiveness:

Hunters: Me and Chucky

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi is still limping slightly, so I left her at the camp.

Special Equipment:

Curses: no waterfowl

Kudos:

Birds By Species: 1 GW

We had one flock work well into the decoys and after 6 shots we ended up with one on the water. The guy I hunted with this morning has no patients. He turned to me around 7:45 and asked if I was ready to go. We left the blind at 8:00. We saw very few birds while out there and heard very little shooting. Fog was not a factor. Randall hunted north of 82 this morning and they had their 4-man limit by 7:00. All teal.
I was to hunt with Randall and chucky in the morning in the blind Randall hunted this morning but chose to pack it up and head home instead. The scenario for tomorrow of getting dropped off at a blind and possibly picked up before finishing wasn't inviting.

[DComeaux]

[quote="DComeaux"]Date: 12/26\7/2025 Our blind

The guy I hunted with this morning has no patients. Fixed this.....Patience

[DComeaux]

Date: 1/2/2026 Our blind

Cloud Cover - Few low clouds

Direction and Velocity: Moderate SSW

Temperature: upper 60's ?

Moon phase: Looks near full

Waterfowl Activity: Nothing

Waterfowl Responsiveness:

Hunters: Me and Blake

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi

Special Equipment:

Curses:

Kudos:

Birds By Species: DNS

Very few shots heard this morning and not many vehicles moving on the drive to the boat launch. We might have seen 50 ducks this morning. We left the blind @ 9:30. Our campground is empty. We'll keep plugging away, I just hate it for Remi.

[DComeaux]

Date: 1/3/2026 Our blind

Cloud Cover - heavy sea fog with 1/4-mile vis at best.

Direction and Velocity: strong SSW

Temperature: upper 60's ?

Moon phase: full but couldn't see it

Waterfowl Activity: Nothing

Waterfowl Responsiveness:

Hunters: Me and Blake

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi

Special Equipment:

Curses:

Kudos:

Birds By Species: 1 GW teal

one flock of teal in the decoys around 8 or 9 and very few others seen. We left the blind around 11. It's going to be a long depressing remainder of the season. There are no waterfowl holding anywhere near us south of hwy 82.

[MARSH BEAR]

I did not hunt this weekend, we have very little water in our marsh, we have 7 blinds, but only 3 are accessible and none of those blinds are in our top 3. Hoping to hunt Jan 9.
DC - your water level is OK in your marsh?

[DComeaux]

I did not hunt this weekend, we have very little water in our marsh, we have 7 blinds, but only 3 are accessible and none of those blinds are in our top 3. Hoping to hunt Jan 9.
DC - your water level is OK in your marsh?

Our water level is perfect. The level changes by inches as it sloshes back and forth with sustained strong winds. It's how I know the levee is holding. We just need a growing season with no saltwater intrusion to grow food.

[DComeaux]

Date: 1/4/2026 Our blind

Cloud Cover - Overcast

Direction and Velocity: Moderate NNE

Temperature: 50

Moon phase: full

Waterfowl Activity: Just a few more seen this morning than on the other hunts

Waterfowl Responsiveness:

Hunters: Me and Blake

Malfunctions:

Dog(s): Remi, and she got to play in the water. There is no swimming involved at this perfect water level.

Special Equipment:

Curses:

Kudos:

Birds By Species: 1 BW teal 4 GW teal

We saw very few ducks on this very ducky morning but luckily some visited our decoys. We were off on our shooting and should have taken 4 or 5 more birds, at the least. We're pretty rusty from the inactivity we've had this season. It seems many of our marsh neighbors have given up.

I decided to take a picture of Blake with the strap when we called it at 9.

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[Darren]

5 birds and some missed birds sure beats heck out of DNS

[Duck Engr]

I feel you on the rusty part DC. I whiffed on a pair dead center last week. Was wondering why then remembered it was the first ducks I’d shot at in a month.

[Rick]

5 birds and some missed birds sure beats heck out of DNS

It's a trick to keep him coming back.

[Darren]

5 birds and some missed birds sure beats heck out of DNS

It's a trick to keep him coming back.

If the birds don't, the shrimp/crabs (and the stews) will.

[DComeaux]

5 birds and some missed birds sure beats heck out of DNS

It's a trick to keep him coming back.

I know of these tricks, and it doesn't work anymore. It did however make for a more uplifting morning.

If the birds don't, the shrimp/crabs (and the stews) will.

Crabs and shrimp have been plentiful for sure, but I can do that a whole lot cheaper than the way I'm doing it now.

Blake and I had a long discussion this weekend and we've decided to give this place one more year. We'll pray for no saltwater intrusion or other disaster and see how it goes. If we have a quiet summer and fall, we should get good growth of wigeon grass and other SAV in a large area of marsh around us which may help us attract and hold some waterfowl. This hope is the only thing keeping us there. There are a lot of hunters in an 8-to-10-mile stretch of marsh from the refuge west that are in the same situation as us.

[DComeaux]

I'm not sure how to feel about this just yet.

Black-Bellied Whistling Duck Hunting Season in Louisiana
Season Dates
The hunting season for black-bellied whistling ducks in Louisiana is set for October 3-11, 2026. This marks a special nine-day opportunity for hunters, following approval from the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.

[Darren]

I am glad for the proposed West Zone dates, which conflict with some loud voices on the east end of the state.

As for the squealers....some will have them, some will not. In the face of declining migration of "real ducks," some outfitters will no doubt leverage this into supplemental cash flow, hard to blame them.

Outfitter Mike in Delacroix area has plenty squealers, may in fact inquire about a date with him for October myself.

[Ericdc]

I sent this email to Jason Olszak yesterday.

Good afternoon gentlemen, I know this is way early, but it's on my mind. Do you guys see a way that we could open the 2nd segment in the east zone next year on Saturday the 12th of december instead of the 19th. I feel like we missed some good opportunities this year waiting till the 20th to reopen. I would like to see us have more days in mid December rather than running the season to January 31st. In a "normal" year, we'd have more backwater by mid december than we do this year and I just think the hunting would be more productive.

This year I would have rather opened the season on Saturday November 15th and closed it Sunday November 30th, allowing us to reopen Saturday December 13th and closing Sunday the 25th.
I hunt flooded ag, so I have water early, but having backwater flooding helps our hunting more than hurts since we can hold more birds on the landscape than a drought year like this one.

Are yall going to fly northeast Louisiana for the January survey? I imagine you're not going to see many ducks at all. Especially north of I-20.

Thanks


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[Ducaholic]

Commissioner Jonathan Walker wanted the latest possible hunting for the EZ. Olszak won't be the person to make that decision.

[Ericdc]

I'd just rather that week in mid December vs the last 7 days of January.


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[DComeaux]

My taxidermist sold me a jumbo crab he'd done last week so dad and I split it as a gift for my mom to hang in the camp, pretty cool!

Do you have a picture of this "stuffed" crab?