![]() Spurned for the muddy taste, they live a life so unmolested that they cup up and fall into the decoys with hunters standing up in the blind. The shoveler, known locally as the spoonbill or spoony, is the chief exception. And unlike their Arkansas brethren to the north, Cajuns don’t hesitate to pull the trigger on most species of puddle duck. The gaudy greenhead visits the marsh but he’s got plenty of company. “We winter a lot of the non-mallards in Louisiana." “What makes Louisiana such an important wintering ground is its diversity of habitat," says Chad Courville, Ducks Unlimited’s regional biologist for Louisiana, as he sits at the Lake Arthur Duck Club’s poker table and sips on a soft drink. Harboring about 10 million ducks, Ducks Unlimited considers it, along with the Mississippi Alluvial Valley and California’s coastal region, one of the three most important North American wintering grounds for waterfowl. The Louisiana marsh, a mixture of mud, water, aquatic plants and wildlife that stretches from the state’s eastern border to its western border, ranges inland from the coast between 80 and 40 miles. It seems as if all the ducks in the world have come to this place. Plenty will come straight over, providing either a passing shot or dropping into the decoys. They seem almost as numerous as the mosquitoes who, in their billons, make a humming noise in the marsh that sounds like a piece of heavy equipment in the distance.īirds that pass to the side are hardly worth looking at. The horizon is filled with thousands of ducks, peeping teal, trilling pintails, raspy mallards and gadwalls making their soft “meep" noise. “They’re moving now," Searcy said with a faint smile. Jake looks back and forth from bird to bird, unsure for a moment which to pick up and then goes back to his original mark. “Just don’t shoot the dog."Īgain the guns bark and more birds fall, blue-wings this time. “From the left," Searcy says in a sharp, husky whisper as he catches sight of another flock of teal. Jake is a yellow Labrador but he’s black from the belly down from the marsh mud. “Nice shooting, guys," Searcy says as he sends his dog, Jake, after the birds. One more shell goes into the barrel and another climbing teal folds in a puff of feathers. The heavy Winchester non-toxic load hits the bird even harder than it hits my shoulder. I shoot too quickly and miss but I rack the old pump and get on another climbing bird. “They’re in the decoys."Īs we stand, 30 teal flare up in our faces. “Coming straight to us, teal," Searcy says. | Rob Searcy squints his eyes and presses the call to his lips. Shop hunting dog stakes from top brands.LAKE ARTHUR, La. Stakes – Shop Ugly Dog Hunting for a wide variety of dog stakes online.Ugly Dog’s dog hunting supply department is your one-stop-shop for hunting dog accessories and training equipment! Shop equipment tested by us to train your bird dog, like the Avery Hexabumper. Training Dummies & Bumpers – Shop Ugly Dog Hunting for a wide variety of dog training dummies & bumpers. ![]() Ugly Dog is your one stop shop for hunting gear for you, your dog and the hunt! Shop hunting dog beds from top brands such as Mud River and more. Featuring beds for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Beds – Shop Ugly Dog Hunting for a wide variety of dog beds online.Featuring kennel accessories such as cooling fans, water troughs, cushions and more. Shop hunting dog kennel accessories from top brands such as Mud River, Rivers West, Air Force and more. Kennel & Crate Accessories – Shop Ugly Dog Hunting for a wide variety of dog kennel accessories online.Gear for your Dog – Products for your faithful partner. ![]()
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