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Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
#3491206
08/20/12 01:00 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119
misledkevin
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119 |
Hey all I was looking for some pointers about hunting marsh/swamps from a boat...I just moved to New Orleans from the panhandle of texas- where no boat was needed. I just got a 14ft with a 9.9 and push pole and am about to start scouting. Some questions would be... - Do you hunt from, or hide the boat a ways off - Not sure if i have to hunt in a WMA or if i can just find a hole in the swamps - Worth building a blind, or bootlegging some kind of boat blind Most importantly - What to look for as far as places to put decoy spreads..IE food, Clearings etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: misledkevin]
#3491223
08/20/12 01:03 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,061
deckhand
Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 2,061 |
Extra prop and all parts and tools to change while out hunting.
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: deckhand]
#3491389
08/20/12 01:38 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 128
wcbillcollector
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 128 |
Wire cutters....to get the crab traps out of your prop.
T
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: wcbillcollector]
#3491442
08/20/12 01:53 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
maximum
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might want to get with some of the other folks and make sure where they'll go to.
we've fished in s. louisiana for a while, and from early teal on, folks have to step light until the morning flight is done(the folks with texas plates anyway) and a lot of the locals have their "spot"
just sayin'. . . . . .
good luck
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: maximum]
#3491552
08/20/12 02:23 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119
misledkevin
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119 |
Good call with the spare prop and wire cutters, I have yet to have any issues with shear pins or anything, but dont plan on spending an extra day/night out there either. I work with some guys that live/hunt around laffitte and houma, will have to check with them to see what they say about tactics etc. The locals south of here are definitely their own breed ill tell you DAT.
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: misledkevin]
#3491590
08/20/12 02:35 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,649
Southtexas36
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,649 |
Hey all I was looking for some pointers about hunting marsh/swamps from a boat...I just moved to New Orleans from the panhandle of texas- where no boat was needed. I just got a 14ft with a 9.9 and push pole and am about to start scouting. Some questions would be... - Do you hunt from, or hide the boat a ways off - Not sure if i have to hunt in a WMA or if i can just find a hole in the swamps - Worth building a blind, or bootlegging some kind of boat blind Most importantly - What to look for as far as places to put decoy spreads..IE food, Clearings etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated You cannot just find a hole in the marsh, the majority of marsh is privately owned an leased for some big bucks, you'll get written up for trespassing in a heartbeat. The ducks will get wise to hunting out of your rig, try to hide it and hunt in the grass or bring a pirogue. Your best bet at this point is to research the WMAs but I'll forewarn you that they get overcrowded and very frustrating to hunt. Be careful with the outboard, a Go Devil or Prodrive would work better. In that area, expect much lower tides during the season than what you see now. Once you have found a legal place scouting will tell you where to hunt, back when I hunted the marshes of Terrebonne, I liked the small potholes and used just a fews decoys. Mojos work. Good luck!
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: misledkevin]
#3491602
08/20/12 02:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,649
Southtexas36
Extreme Tracker
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The locals south of here are definitely their own breed ill tell you DAT. But some good people, and they know how to cook!
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: misledkevin]
#3491702
08/20/12 03:11 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659
Hopedale
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,659 |
Hey all I was looking for some pointers about hunting marsh/swamps from a boat...I just moved to New Orleans from the panhandle of texas- where no boat was needed. I just got a 14ft with a 9.9 and push pole and am about to start scouting. First plan on getting a mud motor. For you size boat go check these out http://www.copperheadmfg.com/Some questions would be... - Do you hunt from, or hide the boat a ways off - hide the boat - Not sure if i have to hunt in a WMA or if i can just find a hole in the swamps - yes, you need to hunt the WMA. Believe it or not, the marsh land does belong to someone, and is usually leased. Here is your map for LA WMAs - http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma
You need to watch it in that small of a boat, but check out biloxi state wildlife management area and Salvador WMA. On the north shore you have Pearl River, but again, with a 14' flat, you have to pay attention to where you put in.
- Worth building a blind, or bootlegging some kind of boat blind - i'd just stick to hiding in the marsh, and keep the boat from being overloaded. Most importantly - What to look for as far as places to put decoy spreads..IE food, Clearings etc. like anything look for groceries, place to hide the boat, and for you to hide when hunting. Get a good GPS if you don't already have one. It is easy to get turned around out there. Any help would be greatly appreciated You need to watch the tides, as some places can get real shallow if the tide is out. Or more importantly, going to drop while you're hunting. If you go to Biolix WMA, watch crossing the ship channel that a large freighter isn't passing by. A boat your size can get swamped quick. Oh, pay attention to the weather conditions. During duck season, you can get some thick fog. If you have a dog and its warm, leave her home. I had a teal stolen from me by a small alligator. Now, after all of that, get out and scout. Last year was one of their best years. Could be because of the drought we had here. You'll have plenty of teal there and they won't move until there is a real good front to hit new orleans. When the big ducks come, you'll get lots and lots of gadwalls. Last years hunt Here is a guide you may want to try http://www.laduckhunts.com/Mike Smith Mike has a lot of land (the marsh spots you wanted to set up on) leased around Delacroix, La Shoot me a PM I'll try and think what else you may want to know.
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: Hopedale]
#3491799
08/20/12 03:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119
misledkevin
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119 |
Thanks for the input guys, looks like ill be checking out some WMAs here shortly..The tides are something I did not anticipate- will def have to take that into consideration. There is A Lot more to it here than just finder WATER which was about 80% of the game in the pandhandle...Looking forward to figuring this place out!
In your experience does salinity affect duck movements? If so i might be looking farther inland, pear river maybe, due to the river being so low.
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: Hopedale]
#3491803
08/20/12 03:40 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,649
Southtexas36
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,649 |
If you go to Biolix WMA, watch crossing the ship channel that a large freighter isn't passing by. A boat your size can get swamped quick.
MRGO is closed now, only local traffic. CORPS installed a rock dam across the channel
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: misledkevin]
#3491818
08/20/12 03:45 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3,649
Southtexas36
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In your experience does salinity affect duck movements? If so i might be looking farther inland, pear river maybe, due to the river being so low.
No salinity does not affect duck movement. It will influence the plant species (food) that will be available depending on how high it gets. Even the saltier water will hold ducks, but you will primarily see gadwalls, teal and mottled ducks in the brackish marshes.
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: Southtexas36]
#3491826
08/20/12 03:47 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119
misledkevin
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 119 |
I second that on the good people out here - I worked with a bunch of houma and thibidoux boys on towboats..They didint let me cook, which was cool with me- Ive been eating red beans and rice on mondays ever since.
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Re: Marsh/swamp hunting from boat- Tips?
[Re: misledkevin]
#3491968
08/20/12 04:51 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
maximum
Veteran Tracker
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never had to worry about anything getting stolen or vandalized when we go fishing.
i'd sure stay away from the crab pots and the shrimp nets.
lotta good folks like what usta be around here.
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