Outdoor Report: Ducks, deer sparse for many this season

Everyone I have talked to says the same thing. “Where did the ducks and deer go?”

Warm weather kept ducks in the northern parts of the United States and deer patterns were slow and nocturnal. Even the fishing was slow for this time of year.

In the last two weeks of December, Louisiana received a record amount of rainfall. After the draining of rainfall, our hunting lease in Avondale had 24 inches of water for nearly 14 days.  Many clubs locally and in Mississippi could not hunt because of accessibility problems due to flooded roads or food plots.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries closed a portion of southeast Louisiana to small game and all deer hunting. Two weeks later, an arctic blast pushed through.

Where are the ducks and why hasn’t the deer activity picked up?

The ducks have been pushed into Mexico and deer in our area are not in the rut. Hunters cannot set an alarm clock and expect the wild to react to time and temperature. We have to hunt and fish the condition to be successful, and patience is our greatest virtue.

But time is running out for most hunters. Deer season closes in Area 6 on Jan. 24 with primitive arms closing Jan. 31.

Archery runs until Feb. 15. Both ducks zones are in full swing.  The west zone will close on Jan. 24 and the east zone closes one week later on Jan 31.

“This has been the most disappointing duck season in my life,” Russell Loupe, of Des Allemands, said. “We killed nine ducks since mid November. We did not hunt deer when we had the high water because of the mandate from the LWF.

“We were not hunting deer anyway.  Now, we are seeing groups of bucks on our wildlife game cameras which is an indication the rut is over.”

Shea Majoria, of Boutte, has had similar problems.

“Our property in south Mississippi has not produced any good deer,” he said. “We see good deer on our game cameras but nothing during the day. I’m optimistic about the last two weeks.

“The cold weather temperatures will help.”

The only report of a nice buck killed was Warren “Duddey” Freeman. He killed a nice 7 point.

According to the Harbor Master at Pier 90, there are plenty of coots in Lake Cataouatche, but very few big ducks. The bass are also starting to bite again and worms and spinner baits have been key.

Whatever the conditions may be, we still hunt and fish in one of the greatest states in the nation.

I appreciate a beautiful sunrise or sunset, the bright red cardinals that feed under my feeder, the squirrels which plays around my deer stand, or the rabbits nibbling in my food plot.  We live in a “Sportsman’s Paradise.”