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Storms don’t just change the forecast; they rewrite the hunt plan. We kick this check-in off with a rain-soaked run to Sassoon’s Petrero Ranch and a surprise favorite: a rock-solid floating blind that changed how we think about concealment and approach. From there, we widen the lens. Caeton breaks down the difference between being near birds and being on the X in rice country, and why blind structure and access can matter more than a louder call. He also shares the humble truth many of us learn the hard way—don’t leave ducks to chase ducks.

Landon adds the statewide context: floodwater opened new options for ducks and hunters, but it also scattered birds until short clearing windows turned them back to feed. He takes us from refuge all-day sits and a banded gadwall to goose hunts in Delta wind where Aleutians and specks dropped hard through rain. His read is specific and actionable—hunt the edges of storms, not just the middle, and look for food patterns returning as the sky brightens.

We head south with Colin to track an unusual mix at San Jacinto and beyond: more mallards than expected, fewer teal than last year, and a full moon that muted a day that should have popped. A midweek limit reminds us to time the window, not the hype, and a first-timer’s gritty, rainy debut shows how mentoring and good cooking can turn one tough afternoon into a lifelong habit. Finally, a surprise guest, Jon from Filthy Spoon caps December with pintails behaving like they’re supposed to, community moments like the Grinch call drop, and straight talk about finishing the season strong. If cold pushes birds down and water recedes, late January could fire—think pintails and wigeon that commit like teal.

This is a map for the weeks ahead: choose blinds by structure and approach lines, hunt right after weather breaks, and trust the spots that are already producing. If you’re seeing floodwater, follow the food. If you’re chasing geese, let the wind work for you. And if you’ve got a story, shell tip, or blind you swear by, share it with us. Subscribe, leave a review, and tag us on Instagram @fortheFowlers with your best late-season move—we’re featuring the sharpest takes next week.