Dedicated to Chronicling Hunting and Fishing Adventures in South Texas

Texas Ducks Unlimited: http://www.ducks.org/states/64/index.html 

Rockport Weather: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/crp/

Hunting Retriever Club: http://www.huntingretrieverclub.org/

Alamo Retriever Club: http://www.alamoretriever.com/

Duck Food: See Attachment Below or http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/index.htm

RedHead Video 2011 

04/16/2012 Hunt Test Goals Accomplished!

I couldn’t have had a better Birthday.  Tini had been in and out of hunt test mode, not knowing what dog would come off the trailer.  Thank God that Jake Gotta of Best Retrievers had the stamina to stay with her.  She is my first finished dog and I can’t wait till hunting season starts!!!  Now it’s time to focus on fixing the airboat and duck boat in preparation for Dux Season.   Hope to cu soon.

03/1802102 Been a Long Time Writing…….

Spring is here, no I didn’t do any big trout fishing.  Wind is picking up so I guess we’ll be off the water for a while.  Mostly we have been going to hunt tests trying to put a finished title on Tini.  Our pass to fail ratio lacks a lot to be desired but we will try and wipe it out.  Well we are getting to the point where we need to start prepping for duck season.  Almost 230 days till Dux Season and counting; hope to cu soon.

Ode to 2011-2012 Duck Season

Who would have thought with all that Drought?
That we’d have a season that would leave us with no doubt. 

Appreciative of South Texas and the ducks that we find in the brush
Of course they come in flocks and then leave in a rush! 

To the redheads and teal that have filled my bag.
And the straps they produced that caused my arms to sag 

While I’m glad it’s over cause the time has come
I have to say though I’m feeling a little bummed 

So to all my friends who will now be scare to be found
Here’s to next season as I can’t wait till it comes around.

01/23/12 Season Endings

Well the season, at least for me, is mostly over.  Duck boat has been out of commission and is now in the shop.  Airboat needs some exhaust work and is out of commission and all my friends have thrown in the towel also.  The season turned out better than I expected and I was mostly pleased with the birds and the hunts we had.  The new job has been taking up time and I hope to work hard enough to have time off for next season’s hunting schedule.  So now we move onto some fishing and hunt test season.  Thanks for all the memories hope to see you outdoors soon!

12/11/11 What a long Strange Trip it been (again)…..

Well yesterday was the start of the second split and I stayed home. We had a great hunt in Lubbock and I highly recommend Blackfoot outfitters. They set us up with a Crane hunt and Goose hunt and really do their homework. As far as our Nebraska leg of the trip we just didn’t find a lot of dux? Also, there is ice on that water, so cold that the muck freezes right on the boat. Pretty much cured me of wanting to hunt north of the Red River. On to part II of the season.

11/17/11 Season’s Greetings

Well the season has definitely begun.   It seems like mixed results and I just don’t know with the drought how it will all play out.  We had good success on the bayside last weekend but by Tues am, it had changed.  We were excited about the variety we were seeing on the bayside, which is usually just pintails & redheads.  Then we had a bang up hunt Wed am, on some small ponds adjacent to Port Bay.  We are fast approaching the split and then we are headed for Nebraska.  We will keep you posted.

11/09/11

Finally, four days into dux season and I get to hunt. Did an evening hunt for a couple of hours. I was a little disappointed in the # of birds I saw- things were so slooowwww…… We will be trying to kick off the season this weekend at the coast. We’ll see how it goes.

10/7/11 Here’s the scoop

As we sit now Choke Canyon is 11 feet down and 63.8% full. We’ve got record teal, redheads and other species but Texas, in general, is experiencing one of the worst droughts ever. How this plays out is anybody’s guess. My thoughts are that even though the coast and Choke will hold and have water, there is little to no vegetation and food to keep the ducks here. We are supposed to get some rain this weekend and it may help but just slightly. Side note: My pup is headed for GA and AL to run her AKC stuff and we hope to have a senior title on her when she gets back. Lots of stuff to do with 29 days left before duck season hope to cu soon.

09/15/11 Season is Almost Here!

Well the season has begun, but I haven’t……  We got in a few days of white wing shooting but I have yet to take a crack at those teal.  Bird reports seem to indicate not as many birds down for the start but supposedly things are picking up.  Had a good hunt with the old dogs, and Lanny & Sandy.  Big duck season will be here before you know it!

2011-12 Proposed Duck Season Dates
by Gene Camargo on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at 11:39am 

Looks like we are looking at a 16 day Sept 10th, early teal start with a new Early Season for non-migrating (golf course) Canada Geese, can you say FORE!!!! The split is right where we want it with us hitting the road the day after for Nebraska!--And looks like we will be hunting all the way till the end of January. Ooops also forgot looks like we keep the 2 pintail limit-- Wahoo!!!! Bring it on!!

I also encourage you to comment, even if you like what you see- the more feedback the better:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/public_comment/proposals/201108_late_migratory.phtml

Ducks, Mergansers, and Coots

High Plains Mallard Management Unit:
(i) all species other than “dusky ducks”: October 29-30, 2011 and November 4, 2011 – January 29, 2012 (ii) “dusky ducks”: November 7, 2011 – January 29, 2012

North Zone:
(i) all species other than “dusky ducks”: November 5 – 27, 2011 and December 10, 2011 — January 29, 2012 (ii) “dusky ducks”: November 10–27, 2011 and December 10, 2011 – January 29, 2012

South Zone:
(i) all species other than “dusky ducks”: November 5 – 27, 2011 and December 10, 2011 — January 29, 2012 (ii) “dusky ducks”: November 10–27, 2011 and December 10, 2011 – January 29, 2012

06/04/11 What a Long Strange Trip Its Been...........

Since we didn't run started level, when it came time to get Tini's seasoned title, we needed 4 passes instead of 3.  We finished up here in Texas, with 3 passes and only, and needed one more for her title.  Me & my infinite wisdom decided to go to Southern Missouri to get that last pass.  Only 600 plus miles, couldn't be that bad, so we registered and set out.  Click "HERE" to read the Full Story: HERE

05/23/11 Hunt Test Season!!

Well Hunt Test Season is over too! We finished with 3 seasoned passes, unfortunately Tini needed 4 to get her Hunting Retriever Title. It was a lots of fun and hats off to Best Retrievers and Jake Gotta for getting her through the test(s). They did a great job in steadying her at the line and getting her to stop on a sit whistle. Lanny also titled Gunnar this weekend so a big Kudos to him and Gunnar also. Now we are just counting the days till duck season....

See Tini here       See Tini here (land)

05/14/11 Babes on the Bay

Babes on the Bay tournament- was quite fun, even though I dread tournaments.  We wound up 31 out of 73 teams that weighed in.  Sandi had a real nice 23" trout but after two trout we could not catch that last one.  Rana caught a nice red, but we should have had a bigger one.  Thanks for a fun weekend : Sandi, Rana, Ruby and LRC Lisa!!!

03/28/11 Redfishing Picking up!

Well we haven't had a chance for a hunt test, and it's looking like we might not be able to title Tini this spring- bummer-- but the red fishing has been good.    There were good sized reds on the flats this past weekend and they were hungry.  Ripped my lure to shreds and like a rookie I didn't put a back-up in my pocket.  Rana caught the last one and for some reason the smallest one, but it was pure fun.  Ready for summer now.

03/15/11

Tini got a seasoned pass, this past Sunday. 3 more to go....

02/25/11 Dog Training--

Well we are in hunt test mode. The wet rat hasn't run yet but we are hoping. She still needs to make the connection from the drills to the field. Here a short clip.