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Message
Beware long read: Young hunter's opinion on down duck season. Blame Mother Nature
Posted on 2/1/19 at 12:36 am
Posted on 2/1/19 at 12:36 am
Young hunter's opinion on down duck season
My explanation was too long to post on here, but give it a read if you aren't already sold on flooded corn fields and heated ponds killing Louisiana's duck hunting. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to lash out and blame practices up north for our down year of duck hunting this year in Louisiana. There are plenty of wild theories that are buzzing around that will most likely never be proven. Maybe some are true, who knows, but I wanted to shed some light on what I have noticed with my own eyes. According to most, the hunting was awful statewide, but there are local reasons for this too. The lack of feed in the southeast brackish coastal areas was exponential.
My theory is that the marshes in southeast Louisiana are absolutely critical to the migration of ducks throughout all of Louisiana. It all starts with the marshes. The majority of the birds that migrate this far south do so to utilize our marsh at some point or the other. In years that the state holds large amounts of birds, they make the marsh their home when they first arrive then develop their flight patterns to fields and surrounding areas due to the weather throughout the winter months. This past summer we had strong south winds and several minor storms that went hand and hand with each other. They not only caused high water throughout all of southeast Louisiana marshes, but most detrimental was the duration in which this weather kept the water high in these areas. The longterm high water levels caused massive amounts of saltwater intrusion which killed off more wigeon grass in Dularge than I have seen since I started hunting the area. Several hunters in other southeast LA areas have told me the same. Those massive mats of grass that hold flock after flock of gray ducks simply just were not there this season. This directly correlates with the low number of birds in our areas and most likely caused a shift of the migration further west to more unaffected areas.
One might ask, how would you go about fixing this issue in the future? Well, Im sure there are other ways of going about it but the amount of change I have seen from just a few small weirs is undeniable. Even in the worst year of duck hunting we have all seen, in my area, if there is a weir ahead of a pond, the grass is there and the birds are in it. I know that’s a small example, but this saltwater intrusion is real and the more habitat that is wasted along our coast, the fewer birds we have in our state as a whole. If there was some organization that would take all of its donations and put it towards building small weirs or rock piles in areas that needed it, that would do much more for our area and state than any other duck organization that we currently have. Its as simple as, limit the flow, and the grass will grow. This is not to say that weirs are the definite answer, but it just reiterates my goal of taking care of home before worrying about elsewhere.
The migration to Louisiana all starts with the marshes. Our marsh is why our state has been so appealing to birds throughout history. At some point each year the weather will push the birds south. But birds will not stay in an area if there is not an abundance of feed to keep them there. Sure there may be feed in some areas, but once hunters shoot those birds out they are not dumb enough to keep coming back. What I mean by an abundance of feed is areas that allow birds to stay out of reach of hunters such as grass beds in the middle of ponds and bays. Such grass beds just were not around this season. Let's let mother nature play her cards over the next few years before jumping to outrageous conclusions. The shift of the migration to the west is real and has been proven this year, but it's not necessarily permanent. The feed will grow back, lets just hope the high water holds off next season.
Im a young duck hunter who would hate to see my passion come to an end far too soon. So this all leads me to ask questions. What if the issue lies where we sit? What if our deteriorating marsh is allowing normal weather to cause salt water intrusion that didn’t occur years ago? What if ducks would prefer to migrate to an area that is stable and predictable? Ducks are animals. Their main goal is to find a food source that is the most plentiful and least exhaustive to obtain. Marshland is wiped away every single day which is the sole warrior that combats this said saltwater intrusion and in turn the amount of feed we have for ducks. Ducks also have instincts. One of which is to migrate south to certain areas year after year. What if our deteriorating marshes in all of southeast LA are causing ducks to develop new instincts to migrate to areas that are far more stable and reliable year after year which leads them further west? I don’t think it’s totally irrational to think that if half of the state’s coast doesn’t have the amount of feed that it used to in the “hay day” that the birds have moved elsewhere. I also don’t think it’s totally irrational to quit blaming other states and their practices and focus more on what we have in our backyard.
My explanation was too long to post on here, but give it a read if you aren't already sold on flooded corn fields and heated ponds killing Louisiana's duck hunting. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to lash out and blame practices up north for our down year of duck hunting this year in Louisiana. There are plenty of wild theories that are buzzing around that will most likely never be proven. Maybe some are true, who knows, but I wanted to shed some light on what I have noticed with my own eyes. According to most, the hunting was awful statewide, but there are local reasons for this too. The lack of feed in the southeast brackish coastal areas was exponential.
My theory is that the marshes in southeast Louisiana are absolutely critical to the migration of ducks throughout all of Louisiana. It all starts with the marshes. The majority of the birds that migrate this far south do so to utilize our marsh at some point or the other. In years that the state holds large amounts of birds, they make the marsh their home when they first arrive then develop their flight patterns to fields and surrounding areas due to the weather throughout the winter months. This past summer we had strong south winds and several minor storms that went hand and hand with each other. They not only caused high water throughout all of southeast Louisiana marshes, but most detrimental was the duration in which this weather kept the water high in these areas. The longterm high water levels caused massive amounts of saltwater intrusion which killed off more wigeon grass in Dularge than I have seen since I started hunting the area. Several hunters in other southeast LA areas have told me the same. Those massive mats of grass that hold flock after flock of gray ducks simply just were not there this season. This directly correlates with the low number of birds in our areas and most likely caused a shift of the migration further west to more unaffected areas.
One might ask, how would you go about fixing this issue in the future? Well, Im sure there are other ways of going about it but the amount of change I have seen from just a few small weirs is undeniable. Even in the worst year of duck hunting we have all seen, in my area, if there is a weir ahead of a pond, the grass is there and the birds are in it. I know that’s a small example, but this saltwater intrusion is real and the more habitat that is wasted along our coast, the fewer birds we have in our state as a whole. If there was some organization that would take all of its donations and put it towards building small weirs or rock piles in areas that needed it, that would do much more for our area and state than any other duck organization that we currently have. Its as simple as, limit the flow, and the grass will grow. This is not to say that weirs are the definite answer, but it just reiterates my goal of taking care of home before worrying about elsewhere.
The migration to Louisiana all starts with the marshes. Our marsh is why our state has been so appealing to birds throughout history. At some point each year the weather will push the birds south. But birds will not stay in an area if there is not an abundance of feed to keep them there. Sure there may be feed in some areas, but once hunters shoot those birds out they are not dumb enough to keep coming back. What I mean by an abundance of feed is areas that allow birds to stay out of reach of hunters such as grass beds in the middle of ponds and bays. Such grass beds just were not around this season. Let's let mother nature play her cards over the next few years before jumping to outrageous conclusions. The shift of the migration to the west is real and has been proven this year, but it's not necessarily permanent. The feed will grow back, lets just hope the high water holds off next season.
Im a young duck hunter who would hate to see my passion come to an end far too soon. So this all leads me to ask questions. What if the issue lies where we sit? What if our deteriorating marsh is allowing normal weather to cause salt water intrusion that didn’t occur years ago? What if ducks would prefer to migrate to an area that is stable and predictable? Ducks are animals. Their main goal is to find a food source that is the most plentiful and least exhaustive to obtain. Marshland is wiped away every single day which is the sole warrior that combats this said saltwater intrusion and in turn the amount of feed we have for ducks. Ducks also have instincts. One of which is to migrate south to certain areas year after year. What if our deteriorating marshes in all of southeast LA are causing ducks to develop new instincts to migrate to areas that are far more stable and reliable year after year which leads them further west? I don’t think it’s totally irrational to think that if half of the state’s coast doesn’t have the amount of feed that it used to in the “hay day” that the birds have moved elsewhere. I also don’t think it’s totally irrational to quit blaming other states and their practices and focus more on what we have in our backyard.
This post was edited on 2/1/19 at 5:56 am
17
Posted on 2/1/19 at 1:27 am to lodgedup
That’s a lot of reading baw!!
I don’t know if you would classify me as old or not I’m 42. But I grew up hunting in Venice in the 80s and saw ducks like a carpet all the way out to the exterior bays and barrier islands in years that the rest of the country said there were no ducks!!! Lake ponchatrain had ducks maraupas had ducks that you would see from the road!!
The amount of ducks that are visible in Louisiana is down and has been down for several years. Yeah maybe you had some good hunts the last few years!! But I don’t think anyone even the ones who limit out will say that the birds that come down to south la is anywhere near what they were!!!
And I can promise you if I lived in Missouri I would plant fields and flood them an never get in a pirogue again in my life!!!
I don’t know if you would classify me as old or not I’m 42. But I grew up hunting in Venice in the 80s and saw ducks like a carpet all the way out to the exterior bays and barrier islands in years that the rest of the country said there were no ducks!!! Lake ponchatrain had ducks maraupas had ducks that you would see from the road!!
The amount of ducks that are visible in Louisiana is down and has been down for several years. Yeah maybe you had some good hunts the last few years!! But I don’t think anyone even the ones who limit out will say that the birds that come down to south la is anywhere near what they were!!!
And I can promise you if I lived in Missouri I would plant fields and flood them an never get in a pirogue again in my life!!!
Posted on 2/1/19 at 1:44 am to Ol boy
Beware of the long read lol I know it's a lot I apologize for the novel.
I'm 24 so maybe I missed those days that you were talking about. I started hunting in the marsh at 16 so that gives me 8 or 9 years of seeing whats going on. What I call a lot of birds may not be equivalent to what you call a lot of birds but in past years there has still been plenty to hunt and at least keep you motivated to get back out there. This year felt like it was pointless to even leave the house unless there was a hard cold front coming through.
You guys have seen the days where duck hunting in Louisiana was stupid silly. The birds were everywhere. My friends and I haven't necessarily seen this. All we have to go off of is the years that we have hunted and what we have seen with our own eyes. I consider the past 8 years of duck hunting to be pretty good, but like I said, its all that I know. Last year there were plenty of birds to be killed from opening day to the very last. I noticed a major difference in my area this year than years past which was the lack of feed all around us. I'm not talking about just my lease, I'm talking about a 30 to 40 mile stretch of coast that was almost barren of feed. It can't be much different everywhere else. You have to think feed plays an integral part in holding birds. Especially for those gray ducks and even green wings. We all know they only really like a certain type of marsh down in southeast LA. The perfect mixture of salt and freshwater. This was the area that got hit the hardest by that high water. This sudden drop off in birds from last year to this one has to have some explanation dealing with our habitat down here. These practices up north have been going on for years and while they may be the reason why the duck days aren't what they used to be back in the day like you describe, I find it hard to believe that they blew up so much over this past year to have all of a sudden totally ruined duck hunting down here.
I may be wrong, it's just another viewpoint. We may all be wrong, or right. Maybe they all go hand in hand. who knows.
I'm 24 so maybe I missed those days that you were talking about. I started hunting in the marsh at 16 so that gives me 8 or 9 years of seeing whats going on. What I call a lot of birds may not be equivalent to what you call a lot of birds but in past years there has still been plenty to hunt and at least keep you motivated to get back out there. This year felt like it was pointless to even leave the house unless there was a hard cold front coming through.
You guys have seen the days where duck hunting in Louisiana was stupid silly. The birds were everywhere. My friends and I haven't necessarily seen this. All we have to go off of is the years that we have hunted and what we have seen with our own eyes. I consider the past 8 years of duck hunting to be pretty good, but like I said, its all that I know. Last year there were plenty of birds to be killed from opening day to the very last. I noticed a major difference in my area this year than years past which was the lack of feed all around us. I'm not talking about just my lease, I'm talking about a 30 to 40 mile stretch of coast that was almost barren of feed. It can't be much different everywhere else. You have to think feed plays an integral part in holding birds. Especially for those gray ducks and even green wings. We all know they only really like a certain type of marsh down in southeast LA. The perfect mixture of salt and freshwater. This was the area that got hit the hardest by that high water. This sudden drop off in birds from last year to this one has to have some explanation dealing with our habitat down here. These practices up north have been going on for years and while they may be the reason why the duck days aren't what they used to be back in the day like you describe, I find it hard to believe that they blew up so much over this past year to have all of a sudden totally ruined duck hunting down here.
I may be wrong, it's just another viewpoint. We may all be wrong, or right. Maybe they all go hand in hand. who knows.
This post was edited on 2/1/19 at 1:53 am
Posted on 2/1/19 at 2:34 am to lodgedup
So I’m not saying your off on your theory for where you hunt but that don’t explain the rest of the state. I used to hunt some with various buddies in locations like ( Indian bayou, peire part, pecan island) and talking to them it’s been a similar decline across the years. I don’t think last year was any different although I didn’t hunt with them just average talk in how they had been doing.
Now I’m not a biologist but I have a theory myself. We now know through radio tracking that ducks come down and will fly back up several hundred miles. We have lots of pressure such as mud boats and groups who hunt mornings and evenings. They have fields that they walk to and never scare nesting birds. They have flooded corn we have weigon grass. Ducks that come down find little or less desirable feed get hammered then go to better areas and eventually quit using areas all together, hard winters decrease the premium acreage up north hence seeing some “better” years. If you have ever seen ducks in a pond with cracked corn then you can understand what your competing against.
Now I’m not a biologist but I have a theory myself. We now know through radio tracking that ducks come down and will fly back up several hundred miles. We have lots of pressure such as mud boats and groups who hunt mornings and evenings. They have fields that they walk to and never scare nesting birds. They have flooded corn we have weigon grass. Ducks that come down find little or less desirable feed get hammered then go to better areas and eventually quit using areas all together, hard winters decrease the premium acreage up north hence seeing some “better” years. If you have ever seen ducks in a pond with cracked corn then you can understand what your competing against.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 3:39 am to lodgedup
Not buying the marsh thing at all.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 4:06 am to Ol boy
What I’m saying is that if half of the state’s marsh (southeast Louisiana) doesn’t have the amount of feed that it has had over recent years. Birds adapt to that and move elsewhere. That’s reason enough to explain a shift far west in the flyway. Erosion has made the southeastern portion of our state more susceptible to high water and therefore high salinity levels. When we get a break in high salinity levels caused by sustained high south winds or storms the birds will come back.
Worst case scenario is that the erosion issue has gotten too out of hand and we don’t have enough exterior marsh to prevent salt water intrusion anymore even with normal weather therefore reducing the amount of feed year after year so birds are trending west towards more erosion safe areas like Pecan Island and Texas. These areas are protected by beaches and historically havent relied as heavily on land reproduction from rivers such as the Atchafalaya or the Mississippi which is inhibited by our levee system. Each year it gets worse and worse on our side which is proven by google earth images historical photos. Maybe this past season was the breaking point
Worst case scenario is that the erosion issue has gotten too out of hand and we don’t have enough exterior marsh to prevent salt water intrusion anymore even with normal weather therefore reducing the amount of feed year after year so birds are trending west towards more erosion safe areas like Pecan Island and Texas. These areas are protected by beaches and historically havent relied as heavily on land reproduction from rivers such as the Atchafalaya or the Mississippi which is inhibited by our levee system. Each year it gets worse and worse on our side which is proven by google earth images historical photos. Maybe this past season was the breaking point
This post was edited on 2/1/19 at 4:15 am
Posted on 2/1/19 at 5:53 am to lodgedup
For ten years , the nearest grocery store was a mile away. We drove to that store to buy food all the time. A few years ago they built two grocery stores across the street. Haven’t driven a mile for groceries since.
One day, my child was old enough to drive to the store on his own. When he went across the street, the stores were closed. He asked me what to do. I told him to drive to the store one mile down the road , but he didn’t know how to get there because he had never been there before.
One day, my child was old enough to drive to the store on his own. When he went across the street, the stores were closed. He asked me what to do. I told him to drive to the store one mile down the road , but he didn’t know how to get there because he had never been there before.
This post was edited on 2/1/19 at 7:04 am
Posted on 2/1/19 at 6:34 am to Ol boy
The entire united states had a bad year because it didn't get cold. For some reason the jet stream held further north than usual(La Nina). That means all of the flyways not just the Miss Flyway. That's not to say the south wind doesn't kill widgeon grass because it does. I agree with young one. On my marsh lease east of dularge the widgeon grass did die this year presumably due to high water. I don't think anyone sprayed weed killer on it.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 6:40 am to michael corleone
Best explanation ever.
Now tell me how your going to sue the builders of the grocery store?! Let’s make it so all grocery stores are in sela. Or let’s fine people who shop at those grocery stores..
Now tell me how your going to sue the builders of the grocery store?! Let’s make it so all grocery stores are in sela. Or let’s fine people who shop at those grocery stores..
Posted on 2/1/19 at 6:47 am to lodgedup
You actually have to have numbers of birds to come down first before deciding eroding marsh is a reason. The birds just didn’t come down in numbers like everyone is accustomed to in the past.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:13 am to lodgedup
quote:
Birds adapt to that and move elsewhere
Yep, just like every other wild animal. And if a group of coonies think they're gonna effect migratory game law changes over millions of other hunters because of this, they're smoking crack.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:20 am to lsuson
I'd love to go super long on this but will keep it to my key bullets below:
1.) First and foremost, winter didn't happen in the calendar points we need (before closing of East Zone). It DID just ONE YEAR AGO, and hunting was strong. I'm getting reports from all over right now following this big snow event north of us, lots of birds in lots of places they hadn't been this season at all. Check online for snow cover maps and compared early Jan this year to same point in 2018, big difference. Hell, I have tender plants in my yard that are green as could be right now, last year same time they were shot. This cannot be disputed. Supporting stats play out up and down the flyway. Further supporting this is Ark. had a junk season as well, just didn't get the migration.
2.) Our marshes are deteriorated, yes, and I'm talking further SE than you are (OP)...St. Bernard. Those skirting storms this summer put a whollup on my lease out that way. Had marsh wrack on top of my blind rails.....didn't have that in recent years, even when we took a more direct hit from a storm. Hurricane Michael's surge, though a Florida landfall, was legit out that way on our eastern end.
3.) The birds have not simply migrated to the west from your SE La references, Dularge, etc. West had a junk season too overall, with very few places having any kind of halfway consistency. There were well known clubs and guide services really struggling all season. As referenced in #1 above further supporting this, Ark. had a poor season as well. Wasn't as simple as birds shifted off of SE La because of poor pond conditions. They just didn't come at all.
My string of positive outlook on this is that I've seen this before, its well documented on my logs. Areas traditionally full of grays that were one year inexplicably devoid of them, were again loaded up just the following season. It was scary to not see them, as you stated regarding the potential for imprinting, but they showed in force the following November. Hope for real winter in 2019 and I think you'll get your birds back provided you're hunting decent habitat with food.
1.) First and foremost, winter didn't happen in the calendar points we need (before closing of East Zone). It DID just ONE YEAR AGO, and hunting was strong. I'm getting reports from all over right now following this big snow event north of us, lots of birds in lots of places they hadn't been this season at all. Check online for snow cover maps and compared early Jan this year to same point in 2018, big difference. Hell, I have tender plants in my yard that are green as could be right now, last year same time they were shot. This cannot be disputed. Supporting stats play out up and down the flyway. Further supporting this is Ark. had a junk season as well, just didn't get the migration.
2.) Our marshes are deteriorated, yes, and I'm talking further SE than you are (OP)...St. Bernard. Those skirting storms this summer put a whollup on my lease out that way. Had marsh wrack on top of my blind rails.....didn't have that in recent years, even when we took a more direct hit from a storm. Hurricane Michael's surge, though a Florida landfall, was legit out that way on our eastern end.
3.) The birds have not simply migrated to the west from your SE La references, Dularge, etc. West had a junk season too overall, with very few places having any kind of halfway consistency. There were well known clubs and guide services really struggling all season. As referenced in #1 above further supporting this, Ark. had a poor season as well. Wasn't as simple as birds shifted off of SE La because of poor pond conditions. They just didn't come at all.
My string of positive outlook on this is that I've seen this before, its well documented on my logs. Areas traditionally full of grays that were one year inexplicably devoid of them, were again loaded up just the following season. It was scary to not see them, as you stated regarding the potential for imprinting, but they showed in force the following November. Hope for real winter in 2019 and I think you'll get your birds back provided you're hunting decent habitat with food.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:25 am to Ol boy
the grocery store ran out of food for a while so they went to another
the lakes of NW la were covered I salvinia
the swamps in se la that were full of ducked and panicgrasses were covered with salvinia and hyacinth
the wigeongrass has been spotty all over the coast
lots of ricefields have gone into sugarcane or into crawfish operations which even though still technically a ricefield it is poor duck habitat
but the number one reason this year is weather
everything is flooded up (including unharvested crops that the farmers would have liked to have gotten out but couldnt) and down the flyway and the few fronts we had were not big fronts
the lakes of NW la were covered I salvinia
the swamps in se la that were full of ducked and panicgrasses were covered with salvinia and hyacinth
the wigeongrass has been spotty all over the coast
lots of ricefields have gone into sugarcane or into crawfish operations which even though still technically a ricefield it is poor duck habitat
but the number one reason this year is weather
everything is flooded up (including unharvested crops that the farmers would have liked to have gotten out but couldnt) and down the flyway and the few fronts we had were not big fronts
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:26 am to lodgedup
quote:Groundbreaking
These areas are protected by beaches and historically havent relied as heavily on land reproduction from rivers such as the Atchafalaya or the Mississippi which is inhibited by our levee system. Each year it gets worse and worse on our side which is proven by google earth images historical photos. Maybe this past season was the breaking point
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:33 am to lodgedup
sorta off subject but sorta not one thing I notice from not only the younger duck hunters is in every picture of their spread is a damn spinning wind decoy every single day
leave that thing at home or throw it in the trash
when they work, they work, but if we dont get weather to push in new ducks, you are wasting your time with that thing
leave that thing at home or throw it in the trash
when they work, they work, but if we dont get weather to push in new ducks, you are wasting your time with that thing
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:34 am to Ron Cheramie
quote:
the wigeongrass has been spotty all over the coast
lots of ricefields have gone into sugarcane or into crawfish operations which even though still technically a ricefield it is poor duck habitat
For sure. In my area, wigeon grass was extremely sparse on the lease whereas in previous few seasons it was lush, particularly in more protected ponds.
People don't realize that a rice field prepped to crawfish isn't worth a frick for a duck. And we have A LOT of that, with what I can only presume is a growing trend of the same. Duck hunting is big money, but crawfishing is king I would think
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:36 am to jimbeam
I don’t think you guys are understand what my main point is.
A circuit is only as strong as its weakest link. That’s what we have here. The entire state’s habitatin regards to ducks is needed for the migration to be at the level it’s supposed to be. If an entire quarter of its habitat is subpar one year then obviously the birds will not be in the surrounding areas.
These birds don’t fly down to your rice field then stay there for the entire season. They fly hundreds of miles each day/night to different areas in the state and even surrounding states depending on weather. One of which is most definitely the marsh. If this routine is altered then they begin to go elsewhere.
A circuit is only as strong as its weakest link. That’s what we have here. The entire state’s habitatin regards to ducks is needed for the migration to be at the level it’s supposed to be. If an entire quarter of its habitat is subpar one year then obviously the birds will not be in the surrounding areas.
These birds don’t fly down to your rice field then stay there for the entire season. They fly hundreds of miles each day/night to different areas in the state and even surrounding states depending on weather. One of which is most definitely the marsh. If this routine is altered then they begin to go elsewhere.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:37 am to lodgedup
It's all about global warming. (That's what were supposed to say, right?)
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:40 am to lodgedup
An experienced hunter's short explanation.
Weather and weather patterns. We didn't have a cold front push through the region early enough or long enough.
Weather and weather patterns. We didn't have a cold front push through the region early enough or long enough.
Posted on 2/1/19 at 7:42 am to lodgedup
Kid, get educated. You have a long way to go. Your not even ball parking
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