Venice, Louisiana

Posted on November 7, 2003 by Shannon Nardi 

Saturday Nov. 9th, 2002
After getting a little lost on our drive thru New Orleans we all seemed to make it to Venice. Hotels were loaded up with hunters and every type of boat imaginable with Pirogues on top of them. It would be the first day of Duck Season.

Sunday Nov. 10th, 2002
We all met for breakfast and went to Venice Marina. Southern Louisiana is becoming one of my favorite places. Not sure if it is the birds and the Spanish moss along the shore lines, the ocean or just the food. But I love it down there. It's lazy and relaxing to me.

As we pulled into the Marina I started seeing all the different boats, another cool thing. Boats for shrimping, fishing and just for fun. We walked around and looked at boats and then met Clay Hiett and Bobby Warren. Bobby would be our guide on this trip. Hunters and dogs were all around. Lots of fish were coming in too.

We split up to scout. Justin Clay and Bobby went to check out where our next day hunt would be and Steve, Jason and I went out and shot Broll shots. I am always overwhelmed with the beauty there. We stayed out for a couple of hours. We all moved into a house boat and it was a big house boat equipped with a huge kitchen and Sue who took marvelous care of us. Take her Italian heritage and her Louisiana style of cooking and you've got a masterpiece. It was some of the best food I have ever eaten in all of Louisiana.

Monday Nov 11, 2002
So it is our first day out and it is a little ruff. If seemed funny to me that I was going on a hunt and not fishing. We boated across many different bays and passes at the mouth of the Mississippi. Once we got to one destination and then we took a Go-devil to the area of our blind. It was quite an adventure to get to our hunting spot. It was a great set up for our cameras and dogs. Speaking of dogs, Bobby brought his dog, Rouge. Rouge is a big Chocolate Labrador. He is beautiful. The hunt went well and the boys had a great time. The Chemistry with these 3 was very good. Conversation was TV friendly. Yella loved the marsh and Rouge was glad duck season finally opened.

When we got back, Sue had cooked us Stuffed pork chops and they were; well I can't even describe to you how wonderful they were. She also made homemade 'clairs. I want her recipes before I leave. We had other folks join us for dinner and one of these folks was Billy Murray. He is a long time friend of my fathers and I have known him since I was a little one. It was great to see him and chat at dinner. He was down there fishing with his wife.

The evening we scanned tapes as a huge storm rolled in. The rain was hard. The thunder and lighting put a show on for us.

Tuesday Nov 12, 2002
Up early and off to a new spot to hunt. If was ruff again going out. Waters were not smooth. Once we got to land we had a long hike on the beach and then thru, higher than my waist waders, waters. I was truly a girl on this hunt. My toughness wore out. Hiking in waders and then filling them is not the most comfortable thing to hang out in all day. To top that off we had no ducks to speak of at all. The location was perfect. Very picturesque and great for the cameras and I was happy to finally be in a perfect spot, then NO DUCKS!!! I hated giving up on this spot but we did and back to boot camp to the next area of trial. We crossed the bay to a beach. It seemed to be good as the Teal flew through while we were setting up. However the Gods were not in my corner today. Jason fell and submerged a camera and it was pretty much a bust from that point on. Ducks were possibly blown out from the storm because we didn't see any more after those few teal. I must say I got my exercise today and was glad to get dry.

Wednesday Nov 13, 2002
The interview went well this morning. Justin is feeling more comfortable with my questions and understanding my thought process. We had a pretty good shoot the first day so I am okay with that. This would be the first time that the second day was a bust.

Duck hunting has become a really cool thing to me. It use to bother me a little but be around all out different guests and their dogs has made me appreciate what they all seem to appreciate. It is just fun with your friends and fun to watch the dogs do what they love best. It all happens so fast sometime too, making it hard to capture all that is happening with ducks and dogs and hunters. I have been so programmed in doing fishing shows where the story line happens through out the day. On a hunt it can literally be over in 15 minutes. You got your limit and boom your off to breakfast and the dogs take their nap. We have been fortunate that we are shooting with so many great people and their dogs that it has made it easy to build a show and share with you.