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Message
The golden years for ducks are gone....
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:04 am
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:04 am
Life long hunter on the Atchafalaya Delta/Wax...
While spotty limits are still out there, it’s a stretch to assume you’ll come home with a guaranteed 6 birds this season on the Atchafalaya. It’s certainly a far cry from what it used to be out there. Days of consistent black skies and trophy straps are a distant memory on the Delta/Wax. While it pains me to see the Midwest states cashing in on green limits; the motivation to drive my boat/pirogue out to the coast every weekend still burns inside, even if that requires bringing home a few blackjacks to fill the bag lol. Anyway the low water levels, low duck numbers, and surging amount of hunters we’re experiencing this season are unprecedented.
Anybody sold on the fact the Mississippi/Atchafalaya flyway has or hasn’t changed? If so, I’d like to hear some input. I always love the Ducks Unlimited pothole and global warming theories....regardless Outdoor Board is my first browse of the morning and I always enjoy the feedback. Good luck the rest of this season men, give em hell.
While spotty limits are still out there, it’s a stretch to assume you’ll come home with a guaranteed 6 birds this season on the Atchafalaya. It’s certainly a far cry from what it used to be out there. Days of consistent black skies and trophy straps are a distant memory on the Delta/Wax. While it pains me to see the Midwest states cashing in on green limits; the motivation to drive my boat/pirogue out to the coast every weekend still burns inside, even if that requires bringing home a few blackjacks to fill the bag lol. Anyway the low water levels, low duck numbers, and surging amount of hunters we’re experiencing this season are unprecedented.
Anybody sold on the fact the Mississippi/Atchafalaya flyway has or hasn’t changed? If so, I’d like to hear some input. I always love the Ducks Unlimited pothole and global warming theories....regardless Outdoor Board is my first browse of the morning and I always enjoy the feedback. Good luck the rest of this season men, give em hell.
16
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:07 am to Jonrubberman
There absolutely has been some sort of shift in the Mississippi flyway. I don't know what caused it, but it's pretty evident.
As much as I love to deer hunt these days I sure do miss blasting mallards every morning
As much as I love to deer hunt these days I sure do miss blasting mallards every morning
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:10 am to Jonrubberman
I think the flyway is shifting west (dont know why). And no-till farming practices in the midwest states keeps the food source on top of snow in those areas. So birds are'nt forced as much to leave. But my friends with leases in NELA and S.Ark. are killing 50-60 per day with 8-10 guns spread out on the leases. Coastal LA had lots of ducks first split when we had none along Madison, Tensas, Concordia until after Thxgiving.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:14 am to Jonrubberman
Ducks behavior in Louisiana has definitely changed. Sadly rather quickly. The rice fields in SW La. used to be a haven. Not anymore. Also marsh activity has slowed to a crawl. Reports say there are plenty of ducks but they aren't here. I believe it is a combination of several factors and there are probably more than I am aware of.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:29 am to Jonrubberman
Another huge part of this is the swamps have been taken over by grasses and don't have clear flowing water anymore.
Just look at the swamp under I-310... you can barely ever see the water. These swamps used to hold so many birds
Just look at the swamp under I-310... you can barely ever see the water. These swamps used to hold so many birds
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:31 am to Jonrubberman
Probably just not enough hunters to scare the birds up.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 9:34 am to Jonrubberman
I agree. I don’t know about a shift, but birds are not migrating as far south. Missouri and Northern Arkansas are holding birds like never before.
It has to do with habitat IMO. I think more efforts are being made up north to attract and hold birds. Conversely, in MS, LA and Arkansas in particular, 10s of thousand of acres of what used to be low lying, grain producing AG fields have been planted in CRP/WRP through reforestation easements.
The food is no longer there to attract and hold ducks.
I think this has affected areas like Delta/Wax by approximation.
It’s almost always about the habitat. Ducks are trying to eat and survive.
It has to do with habitat IMO. I think more efforts are being made up north to attract and hold birds. Conversely, in MS, LA and Arkansas in particular, 10s of thousand of acres of what used to be low lying, grain producing AG fields have been planted in CRP/WRP through reforestation easements.
The food is no longer there to attract and hold ducks.
I think this has affected areas like Delta/Wax by approximation.
It’s almost always about the habitat. Ducks are trying to eat and survive.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 10:18 am to Jonrubberman
I think there’s a ton of factors including weather, habitat etc. none of these things can be controlled on our WMA’s though. A big problem I see is the irresponsible use of surface drive motors. I’m no duck expert, but I find it hard to believe that they will continue coming to areas where people are running surface drive through their habitat hoping to scare birds up as a form of “scouting.” In my opinion this is something that could be handle very easily.
This post was edited on 1/3/18 at 10:28 am
Posted on 1/3/18 at 10:38 am to Jonrubberman
Just a tough year this year, they’ll be back
Posted on 1/3/18 at 11:06 am to Jonrubberman
I still kill a couple limits a week around lacassine.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 11:14 am to Jonrubberman
The 90's were so awesome for duck hunting in LA. We used to hammer mallards in the holes that we now shoot nothing but ringnecks and greys.
Posted on 1/3/18 at 11:01 pm to Jonrubberman
Richland and Morehouse are simply teal hunts now.
The mallards are gone. We get some pintails with the teal.
It is sad compared to the run we had from 1990 to 2001.
The mallards are gone. We get some pintails with the teal.
It is sad compared to the run we had from 1990 to 2001.
Posted on 1/4/18 at 7:06 am to Jonrubberman
I agree our golden years are gone, but for some reason this year is just really bad. I know a few people that are doing pretty well, but for the most part people are saying this is the worst season they have ever had. I know people who have had great blinds in LA the last few years, and now this year it is awful for them. Even the people I know that have gone to Stuttgart said their duck numbers were really down this year.
Posted on 1/5/18 at 12:48 pm to Jonrubberman
A duck is not going to fly any further South than he has to.
People with unlimited money to spend,on the top third of all flyways, are creating habitat on massive scales with all the food they need to feed literally a hundred thousand mallards on a single farm, for an entire season.
Perhaps more importantly, they have figured out how to use warm well water to keep that habitat from freezing.
It really is that simple. Sucks for us in the South, but it is what it is.
People with unlimited money to spend,on the top third of all flyways, are creating habitat on massive scales with all the food they need to feed literally a hundred thousand mallards on a single farm, for an entire season.
Perhaps more importantly, they have figured out how to use warm well water to keep that habitat from freezing.
It really is that simple. Sucks for us in the South, but it is what it is.
Posted on 1/5/18 at 8:33 pm to Jonrubberman
I was standing on our deck tonight at dusk facing north on lake D'arbonne (NCLA), there's ice in the woods so I was curious to see what was going on. I can see a huge section of the lake up a creek.
Saw 5 ducks, one group.
We used to limit out easily in the woods
Saw 5 ducks, one group.
We used to limit out easily in the woods
Posted on 1/6/18 at 9:15 am to Jonrubberman
We smoked them all season in Cameron Parish.
Posted on 1/21/18 at 12:59 pm to Jonrubberman
After this past week I would like to take back anything bad I may have said about duck hunting in this thread.
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