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Message
re: duck season interesting read from up north...
Posted on 7/17/17 at 3:36 pm to Lreynolds
Posted on 7/17/17 at 3:36 pm to Lreynolds
quote:I agree with all of that, while LA still has great hunting, something or many things, are changing that.
It seems that nothing is working FOR us in Louisiana, but many forces are working AGAINST us. Coastal wetland loss, loss and emigration of rice agriculture, advances(changes) in agricultural practices, climate change, invasive aquatics, etc. are all reducing the attractiveness and capacity of Louisiana habitats to support waterfowl. Some, like climate change and agricultural practices, are driving similar changes in birds wintering further north in Russia, Europe, the Middle East ..... everywhere in the northern hemisphere. I'm sometimes surprised at the ducks I continue to count from the plane every fall/winter, and what we have is still pretty special.
I have hunted public land exclusively, and private land exclusively since I could drive my own truck (32 years
), and killing ducks is harder than ever. I didn't go one single time last year, for the first year since I was 7 years old.
2
Posted on 7/17/17 at 3:39 pm to damnedoldtigah
quote:
I enjoyed the sport, but stopped duck hunting several years ago. It seemed to be that the show was essentially over after the first couple of weeks of the first split ... at least on Catahoula. Miss it, but I am not going to spend that kind of money to sit in a blind and admire the sky.
You nailed it. Too much $$$ for me.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 3:48 pm to tigerfoot
quote:
and killing ducks is harder than ever.
I think on public lands, there are very few places people can't get with a surface drive. Those birds never get a break on public land and because of that, the public bird numbers killed are down...
Posted on 7/17/17 at 3:55 pm to jorconalx
quote:I enjoy deer camp more than duck camp. The evening hunt give you more time hunting, and for the most part there isnt much to screw with if you lazy man hunt like I do now.
You nailed it. Too much $$$ for me.
I will get my boy going duck hunting this year, but just to give him a taste.
This post was edited on 7/17/17 at 4:01 pm
Posted on 7/17/17 at 4:01 pm to tigerfoot
quote:
I enjoy deer camp more than duck camp.
Me too. The whole family gets to enjoy it and I'm no longer spending a frick ton of money duck hunting where I feel like I have to go to justify the expense.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 4:16 pm to jorconalx
quote:My position exactly, I like having my whole crew by the fire pit at night.
Me too. The whole family gets to enjoy it
Posted on 7/17/17 at 4:27 pm to Lreynolds
quote:
Lastly, you all know the score ..... large-scale population estimates/habitat conditions do NOT dictate local hunting success. It seems that nothing is working FOR us in Louisiana, but many forces are working AGAINST us. Coastal wetland loss, loss and emigration of rice agriculture, advances(changes) in agricultural practices, climate change
you lost me at climate change...
Posted on 7/17/17 at 4:37 pm to jimjackandjose
Climate change is real brah. Extent of it, duration of the warming, whether it is reversible or cyclical, or human causation is all up for debate
This post was edited on 7/17/17 at 4:38 pm
Posted on 7/17/17 at 4:50 pm to wickowick
quote:
I think on public lands, there are very few places people can't get with a surface drive. Those birds never get a break on public land and because of that, the public bird numbers killed are dow
same can be said on leased land... I know in our former lease in NO East we had a big chunk in the back of it that never got touched from early 80s(when lease was formed) until 95 when the first guy got a surface drive.....
bump resting birds once they move.... bump em twice they move for 5 minutes.. bump again they move for 30 minutes...
I wonder how much acreage that was rice years ago is no longer rice - and guys crawfish ponds don't hold ducks..... like grain....
and the habitat loss/degradation - that chicken has come home to roost...
as for ducks being harder to kill... spinning wing decoys up the fly way lead to the early deaths of many young ducks....
Posted on 7/17/17 at 6:06 pm to jimjackandjose
quote:Agree it's real, but do not believe taxes will change a thing. Evidence: The southern species such as the tree ducks and exotic doves that now call La home. I didn't know these creatures existed before 10-15 yrs ago. Just my simpleton observation.
you lost me at climate change...
As to the article, the shift westward into the Dakotas I guess matches the evident shift of our mallards into the central? I'm done chasing them, too, until I see and hear some green in the air like "back in the good ol days."
Posted on 7/17/17 at 6:17 pm to The Last Coco
Yep. Birds have just found where they and their buddies are not getting shot at 
Not to mention rice acreage. Know several rice farms near me going to cane this year (
). And the storms and price of rice have acreage in La down as it is
Not to mention rice acreage. Know several rice farms near me going to cane this year (
). And the storms and price of rice have acreage in La down as it isThis post was edited on 7/17/17 at 6:21 pm
Posted on 7/17/17 at 6:34 pm to The Last Coco
quote:Respectfully disagree. I remember being able to kill 10 male pintails in a limit, and doing it rather easily. Teal too.
always hear people reminisce about the "good ole days" but the reality of the science shows that by and large we are better off today than we were in the "good ole days". Just because your hole doesn't produce like it did, doesn't mean overall the ducks aren't here.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 6:36 pm to wickowick
quote:Agree. Plus the strong market for leasing blinds ensures that every pot hole has one.
I think on public lands, there are very few places people can't get with a surface drive. Those birds never get a break on public land and because of that, the public bird numbers killed are down...
Posted on 7/17/17 at 8:48 pm to Geauxtiga
quote:
Respectfully disagree. I remember being able to kill 10 male pintails in a limit, and doing it rather easily.
Well, to your point, Pintail numbers are declining across the board. Pretty much the only duck that is doing that. So your observation is indeed supported by the data.
Regardless, just because you're not shooting the Pintail you did in the past doesn't mean other people couldn't. Snapshot, anecdotal evidence is rarely indicative of large scale trends.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 8:56 pm to The Last Coco
quote:True but my point was that there were a lot of ducks, period. So many, we were able to be selective.
Regardless, just because you're not shooting the Pintail you did in the past doesn't mean other people couldn't
Maybe now they just aren't coming down. Even so, for all practical purposes, they're nonexistent.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 9:21 pm to choupiquesushi
I see it mentioned a few times in here...could someone tell me why no-till farming is an issue for duck hunters?
Posted on 7/17/17 at 9:24 pm to Spankum
Market hunting had a big impact on game bird populations.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 9:27 pm to Spankum
quote:
I see it mentioned a few times in here...could someone tell me why no-till farming is an issue for duck hunters?
Waste grain sits on the ground And is not disturbed. Ducks (especially mallards) that have open roost water around that doesn't freeze (power plant lakes, town ponds, some rivers) are able to feed in these fields for prolonged time periods. Where a small snowstorm or simply a bitter freeze used to force them south many can now stay and feed on these un tilled corn fields unless a huge snow covers them. It takes several inches plus of snow to cover this food source for extended times to force them south.
Combine this with less rice acreage (less flooded fields), more pressure, mojos, and a warmer cycle of temperatures and the end result is declined hunting experiences for many. There is still good hunting to be had but I think private habitat manipulation has concentrated ducks and the use of mojos up north has made them harder to work. For those who think mojos make no difference that may be true to southern hunters over water but over a dry field they are unreal.
This post was edited on 7/17/17 at 9:34 pm
Posted on 7/17/17 at 9:31 pm to tigerfoot
Larry we're fortunate to have you.
Doesn't sound exclusive baw.
quote:
I have hunted public land exclusively, and private land exclusively
Doesn't sound exclusive baw.
Posted on 7/17/17 at 10:23 pm to Geauxtiga
quote:
Respectfully disagree. I remember being able to kill 10 male pintails in a limit, and doing it rather easily. Teal too.
I did too.. and I haven't seen pintail in those numbers in louisiana since the early 80s.... and don't kid yourself it was not like that all season... only after the right weather patterns........
we also had lead shot.... made shooting all waterfowl significantly easier... give me that extra 15 yards of range....it;s all fricking easier
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