Duck hunting in East Texas..need help/advice

[Mignolafan]

Hey Board,

Need some help with getting into duck hunting. I'm new to hunting and thought I'd give duck hunting a shot. I'm pretty serious about it. I've taken a second job to help foot the bill for some gear. I'll be hunting on the public lands around the state.
Questions:

1. Anybody duck hunt in the East Texas area? What types of ducks are the most commonly seen. (For buying decoys)
2. Considering on buying a Redhead Deluxe Layout blind. Anybody use one of these? (I thought this could also double for goose hunting down the road...just dress it up w/ some different scrub.)
3. Camo: Looking to buy a wader jacket & bibs.(Advantage Max 4 or Mossy Oak Duckblind?)

Thanks for any information/advice you can pass along.

Mignolafan

[Keith Miller]

when i use to live in texas we hunted in matagora bay

[Mignolafan]

Thanks for the info. Do you remember what types of ducks you saw down there?

Thanks.

[doc098]

Mallards, Widgeons(a few), occasional pintails, woodducks, coots(pouldoues), canvasbacks.

[Mignolafan]

Thanks Doc

The info should come in handy. I went duck hunting once last season, we couldn't get the birds to turn our direction. I'm going to give it a shot on the public lands in the area. Do you live/hunt in the East Texas area yourself?

Thanks again,

[doc098]

I am originaly from South Louisiana(Baton Rouge). I am stationed at Ft. Polk(West LA) and I do alot of hunting around here. Growing up my Grandfather owned some land in Katy, Texas and we did LOADS of Dove and goose hunting on it, with a little duck. I'm fairly familiar to what kind of ducks are there. What part of Texas are you going to be hunting in?

[Mignolafan]

Probably going to hunt around Texas/Louisianna border. I'll be working on the public lands. White Oak Creek WMA around Texarkana , Toledo Bend ? and Sabine Bottom in Smith County possibly. Don't know how good it will be w/o a boat or dog. I'd like to go do some scouting and check the water levels.

[doc098]

I actually hunt around the east side of Toldedo bend. We may be able to meet up osome time. It is difficult without a boat or dog. Waders are a definate must. Boats would help, but I recently just bougt a $300 bataeu that will fit in the back of my truck. I'm going to use it to retrieve ducks when the water gets gets too high for my waders.
I might put a trolling motor on it. I'm on a tight paycheck with the Army, but I go to the promotion board for Sergeant in Oct. so I will hopefully have some money for some new tools before too long. =]

[Mignolafan]

That's cool. I've never been to Toledo Bend. Just know it's not too far from my area and I believe it's still on the public lands for this year. Not sure what a bataeu is, but I'm going to look it up. I've got a pair of waders (given to me...they were his xtras) I need to finish buying some of my supplies as well. Do you know where I could buy a map of the area lakes that might tell about water depth like a topo map or something?

[doc098]

I'm not to sure about that one, but try your department DNR. The LDWF gives out free maps of all wildlife management areas, but their not topo. Bateau is a small, flat bottomed boat.