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Delacroix Duck Mecca to Duck Graveyard

Posted on 11/22/23 at 3:24 pm
Posted by skullraker
Slidell
Member since Aug 2010
385 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 3:24 pm
I have had a lease is Delacroix since 1994 and it has gone from decent to spectacular, to weak, to graveyard now. I really cannot put a logical reason together as to why it so void of ducks now? Granted; I am aware of obvious changes like severe habitat loss but it still doesn't add up to me. Guys are still doing well in Caernarvon and North of Lake Lery. With ducks in that close proximity; I would like think we would enjoy at least some spillover birds. that has not been the case. And everyone I have spoken to says the same thing: 1 or 2 teal and maybe an occasional Dogris. In the early 2000's we used to hammer the greys and widgeon, and plenty Motts. After Katrina "opened" things up a good bit and the freshwater diversion basically changed the marsh grasses to fresh, we hammered the teal. Most recently, we had plenty teal from 2015-2018 when I was near a marsh restoration project. Since then has been horrible. Last years opener was DNF hunt; unheard of. I didn't even go on the opener this season; but my son hunted the second day and got 2 Dogris between 3 guys. Does anyone have any opinion on why it is virtually void of ducks now? (I am fully aware this is supposed to be a "down" year; but c'mon).
This post was edited on 11/22/23 at 3:27 pm
Posted by KemoSabe65
70605
Member since Mar 2018
5205 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 4:52 pm to
Flyways change, the marsh club south of Vinton has for all practical purposes has shut down. This was a 6 figure buy in and they couldn’t kill 500 birds per season.
They had a banner teal season killing 200 this year??
Posted by GumboPoBoy
Member since Jun 2015
324 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 5:31 pm to
Same thing here. I’m just south of lake leery and it’s been crap for 3-4 years.

I question why I still hunt that property but I don’t have an alternative at the moment.
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19626 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 5:44 pm to
All the of the above. Flyaway change, less habitat, agricultural changes. And one thing I think they are downplaying, population decline.
Posted by magicman534
The dirty dell
Member since May 2011
1584 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 5:50 pm to
I gave up my lease north of
Terre aux boeuf closer to reggio after I hunted in 2019 and didn’t fire my gun opening weekend.

My uncle has a lease just off lake batola. His SIL picked up at 0800 opening morning bc he didn’t see a duck.

When we were hammering ducks in 2016 I never would thought in 3 years time it would turn to such crap.
This post was edited on 11/22/23 at 5:51 pm
Posted by Motorboat
At the camp
Member since Oct 2007
22707 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 5:53 pm to
The population has not declined. I hunted Oklahoma earlier this week and there is no shortage of ducks. They just do not come down here anymore.
Posted by OGhunter777
Member since Mar 2012
788 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 8:10 pm to
Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas is where all our ducks are.

There are isolated areas that still produce good numbers in La. We’ve been fortunate where I hunt in Terrebonne Parish. Our habitat has been spectacular. Which in turn leads to successful waterfowl seasons.
Posted by Speckhunter2012
Lake Charles
Member since Dec 2012
5935 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 8:18 pm to
quote:

The population has not declined. I hunted Oklahoma earlier this week and there is no shortage of ducks. They just do not come down here anymore.


Take yer nets down and share some bah! LOL

I've hunted SE of Lake Charles several times and it's been decent. A couple of hunts our 2-man limit and a couple hunts short a few.

Only 2-3 years ago it was terrible duck hunting on our rice fields but decent elsewhere.

We did a few paid hunts those years with the Hennings in Thornwell and would do great. Next day we'd hunt our lease not that far to the west and not fire a shot.
Posted by SmoothBox
Member since May 2023
720 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 8:38 pm to
There’s no population decline.

I’ve been all over the Midwest and there’s plenty of ducks and geese all over, they just aren’t coming this far south without major weather events, they have no reason to.
Posted by Theduckhunter
South Louisiana
Member since May 2022
721 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 8:43 pm to
quote:

I hunted Oklahoma earlier this week and there is no shortage of ducks.


What part of Oklahoma? How did y’all do?
Posted by hall59tiger
Member since Oct 2013
2485 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 8:47 pm to
I go hunt OK every year with some buddies who grew up there and it’s definitely declined up there as well. Great duck hunts up there now would have been pooh back in the day
This post was edited on 11/22/23 at 8:48 pm
Posted by halleburton
Member since Dec 2009
1520 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 9:24 pm to
Do you think global warming is causing the ducks to winter further north?

Or are you insinuating something else?

I used to hunt with an old farmer whose favorite saying was "every year is different son", maybe he knew a thing or two after 35 years.
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
19626 posts
Posted on 11/22/23 at 9:45 pm to
Exactly, I travel, albeit not near as much as use to but the story is becoming the same from MO to OK.
Posted by Capt ST
Hotel California
Member since Aug 2011
12874 posts
Posted on 11/23/23 at 5:26 am to
Have you tried planting a fall crop of milo and maybe a sweet potato patch?
Posted by Motorboat
At the camp
Member since Oct 2007
22707 posts
Posted on 11/23/23 at 5:37 am to
quote:

What part of Oklahoma? How did y’all do?


Garber. We smashed pintail. More pintail than you could want. Lessers were thick too. Good hunting.
Posted by Redmann
Member since Oct 2021
163 posts
Posted on 11/23/23 at 5:40 am to
Worked in Alaska and Wyoming last year. The majority of bids stay just south of the freeze line. I think they have learned if they venture further south most get shot.
Posted by Capt ST
Hotel California
Member since Aug 2011
12874 posts
Posted on 11/23/23 at 5:53 am to
It’s incredible the number of pintails in the TX panhandle. Damn near every pond I pass is loaded with them.
Posted by choupiquesushi
yaton rouge
Member since Jun 2006
30708 posts
Posted on 11/23/23 at 7:40 am to
I am deer hunting today same place where 8 years ago would have had 5k ducks flying over - zero this am.

Changing habitat, invasives, increase mechanized traffic etc.

Increasing degradation of said habitat too

I have yet to see a location with giant salvinia have decent duck hunting
Posted by The Torch
DFW The Dub
Member since Aug 2014
19424 posts
Posted on 11/23/23 at 7:56 am to
quote:

why it so void of ducks now?


Duck Dynasty ruined duck hunting in Louisiana
Posted by Bawpaw
Member since May 2021
948 posts
Posted on 11/23/23 at 8:07 am to
No. Google Earth, surface drives, social media, and a change in habitat/agriculture ruined duck hunting in LA.
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