Darren Digby It’s hot and muggy now, but can’t you feel it in the air? The early hunting seasons will kick off just next month, and yes, it will still be hot and muggy. The bugs will be out in full force, but when the birds are flying, all of that is much easier to tolerate. With under a month to go, there’s plenty of preparation to be done from gathering shells to scouting hunt locations.
For those chasing doves, check out the condition of key items like a folding stool, shotgun shell inventories and choke tube selection along with lightweight (breathable!) clothing. Lead shot sizes from #6 to #8 are common and are effective in throwing dense patterns of very small shot. Pair these loads with a Skeet or Improved Cylinder Choke and you’re good to go for the September 1st statewide opener. Keep in mind the bag limit is 15 birds per day per person.
Though it’s unlikely I’ll find time and a location to pursue doves, I’ll be scheming extensively for the September 15th statewide teal season opener. In the meantime, I’m checking decoys for holes suffered during last season, stocking up on shells, and most importantly scouting a few different areas for ideal habitat conditions and ultimately early arriving teal.
For those chasing doves, check out the condition of key items like a folding stool, shotgun shell inventories and choke tube selection along with lightweight (breathable!) clothing. Lead shot sizes from #6 to #8 are common and are effective in throwing dense patterns of very small shot. Pair these loads with a Skeet or Improved Cylinder Choke and you’re good to go for the September 1st statewide opener. Keep in mind the bag limit is 15 birds per day per person.
Though it’s unlikely I’ll find time and a location to pursue doves, I’ll be scheming extensively for the September 15th statewide teal season opener. In the meantime, I’m checking decoys for holes suffered during last season, stocking up on shells, and most importantly scouting a few different areas for ideal habitat conditions and ultimately early arriving teal.
Darren Digby and Harry One can do all the preparing of equipment and have enough shells to sink a boat, but without finding an area holding birds, it’s all for naught. It’s awfully hot in late August and first week of September to go tromping through the marshes of southeast Louisiana but it’s important to do so each year as these marshes evolve. An area that was wide open one year may be closed in with standing vegetation and thus un-huntable the next.
As I’ve mentioned in past entries regarding teal season preparation, it’s critical to not be too discouraged if your favorite duck holes are void of any teal before opening day. I’ve now experienced two opening days over the past five years where no birds were to be seen on the eve of the opener, but we took home at least a few on the strap the next morning.
When scouting, think shallow, as a small bird like a teal cannot feed in water that’s too deep. They actually tend to prefer similar habitats that you’ll commonly find wading birds in year round, so I often look for areas that the local wading birds are using and also keep an eye out for resident mottled ducks and/or woodducks as they’ll often be found in the same places. Arriving teal tend to just slip right on in with the crowd.
These birds are well known for their overnight movements on a whim so there’s really only one way to find out what might show up opening morning……go! Show up, toss decoys, kick on a spinner or two and load up. Be prepared and go through with it just like any other hunt, you very well might be pleasantly surprised.
My must-haves for teal season:
Whether the teal show or not, the hunt will be over by 8:00-8:30 at the latest so there will be plenty of time to head out fishing after the guns and decoys are put away. There will be college football on TV as well so hopefully you’ve got ducks, doves, fish or all three to cook while celebrating the cusp of fall. Good luck out there!
As I’ve mentioned in past entries regarding teal season preparation, it’s critical to not be too discouraged if your favorite duck holes are void of any teal before opening day. I’ve now experienced two opening days over the past five years where no birds were to be seen on the eve of the opener, but we took home at least a few on the strap the next morning.
When scouting, think shallow, as a small bird like a teal cannot feed in water that’s too deep. They actually tend to prefer similar habitats that you’ll commonly find wading birds in year round, so I often look for areas that the local wading birds are using and also keep an eye out for resident mottled ducks and/or woodducks as they’ll often be found in the same places. Arriving teal tend to just slip right on in with the crowd.
These birds are well known for their overnight movements on a whim so there’s really only one way to find out what might show up opening morning……go! Show up, toss decoys, kick on a spinner or two and load up. Be prepared and go through with it just like any other hunt, you very well might be pleasantly surprised.
My must-haves for teal season:
- Shells in #4 to #6 steel shot – small shot size makes for dense patterns
- Chokes ranging from Skeet to Light Modified
- ThermaCell unit and YardGuard fogger can – very effective when used in conjunction
- Teal calls for the lanyard – quacking and whistling types
- Spinning wing decoys – at least one or two helps to draw attention from distance
- Floating decoys – can use teal but also larger decoys of other species tend to show up better on the water
- Water bottle – The work put into setting up and picking up a duck hunt can get you heated up in a hurry, don’t get caught with nothing cool to drink
- Lightweight, breathable clothing – short sleeves are nice but long sleeves help combat bugs
- Head lamp – There’s plenty to do in setting up in the dark, a hands free light setup is critical.
Whether the teal show or not, the hunt will be over by 8:00-8:30 at the latest so there will be plenty of time to head out fishing after the guns and decoys are put away. There will be college football on TV as well so hopefully you’ve got ducks, doves, fish or all three to cook while celebrating the cusp of fall. Good luck out there!
