JohnP

True that. In over the 20 plus years of duck hunting I stopped saying it cant get much worse years ago because history has proven it can and will ;). As stated before, I'm thankful and blessed for the opportunity and ability to still get out as much as I do and although I'm glad this seasons over I'm looking forward to next season but ready for a break ;).

Theres usually a few breeding pairs that show up on Taneycomo and Bull Shoals especially when its flooded and we bust them out of the brush bowfishing, pretty cool to see them around but like the woodies they take off south as soon as it gets cool. One of my bucket list ducks is a plumed out BWT.

I'll be honest and didnt hunt as hard as I normally do for ducks but as I said just wasnt seeing the numbers. Usually can base #s looking a ponds and every pond that normally has ducks on them never really did down here other than a couple here and there. One pond that we've always shot ducks and geese off of produce 3 ducks this year in 4 hunts and no geese. What's weird is usually the majority of what we see is gadwall and this year I dont think we've shot a single one and usually shoot alot of GWT this time of year and havent seen a single one either. Havent seen the rafts of divers. Now that seasons over tho they'll be everywhere ;).

Tough season for me and definately the lowest # of birds harvested I can ever remember. Shot 6 birds all season in approximately a dozen hunts. Usually hunt close to double that but didnt hunt middle zone this year and focused more on deer hunting mainly because I wasnt seeing the ducks around to convince me otherwise ;). Still made the most of it yesterday and sat from sunrise to sunset with a good buddy and his son. Scouted the day before and found a bunch of birds of birds and had high Hope's. Get to the ramp to have another boat already put in, asked where they were planning on going and wouldn't ya know it right where I was planning on :(. Well went to plan B and probably should of hit Plan C and went fishing ;). Seen a bunch of birds, 200 to 300 plus throughout the day but couldn't get but a few to commit. Birds would work good and then just fly off acting like stale park birds. Threw every tactic I could think of and they weren't having it. At one point had 40 to 50 mallards work is for what seemed like several minutes just have a hawk chasing a crow over the dekes to spook em and fly off. If we would of past shot probably could of shot close to our limits if not our limits but were not into that and much rather have birds committed feet down tickling the water. Still a fun hunt non the less. Ended it with 3 mallards and a sawbill. The other party did some shooting but didnt hear a whole lot for 3 guys hunting. Couple other buddies were hunting up the creek from us and they said about the same thing as I and managed to shoot one limit between them.

Congrats!!!!!

That was a fun hunt, need to plan another one ;).

Hard to beat a Yella Dawg imho ;).

No complaints from as I'm thankful just to be able to get out and your right about the ice ;). Working night shifts been rough on me this season on me getting motivated to go out in the mornings of course if we had more birds around I might be a little motivated ;).

Got off work at 0600 and being my Friday decided might as well hunt the front on a flooded Corps field full of cockleburrs with the goal of trying to stay up to get back to a normal sleep pattern for the 3 day weekend. Temp was 37, strong north northwest wind, and drizzle when I left work. 20 minutes later the temp had dropped to 33 and sleeting. Changed to snow and was down to 25 when I left. Thought I'd see more than I did but did manage to harvest the lone hen mallard that came in on a string. Sat till 1130 and seen maybe a dozen birds total. Still good to get out. Hopefully small waters will harden up and start concentrating ducks to the rivers and lakes.

Bought some #4 octopus circle hooks last week to tie up some worm harnesses and this tiny hook fell out of the package, glad I dont have to try and thread line thru the eye of this hook. Had to look at thru a magnifier to see it has a eye on it ;).

I'm in the same boat although I havent broke down for the cheaters just yet but probably should ;).

Had a good deer season overall, passed on multiple deer and never did see a stud buck but was blessed with the 2 that I was able to harvest, 1 with a crossbow and 1 with a pistol during alternative season. Also filled a doe tag with the crossbow as well. Had the pleasure to hunt with a good friend and help him with his rifle buck and a doe he shot with a pistol. Son also filled 3 tags, archery buck and 2 alternative doe tags. Feels good to fill a freezer, now time to move onto the waterfowl to finish out the 2018/2019 hunting season.

I've always liked the barnwood slats or shadowbox with the birds hanging from a old nail on leather strap similar to these.

I just did for the humor factor due to the lack of birds and was funny to see the expressions on people when I break out the pink dekes ;). Have actually had GWT and gadwall land in the spread with the pink dekes out ;). Dont know if it helped or not but didnt seem to bother those few that did.

Came across this pic from a couple years ago and the way this season's going this may just be the weekend to breakout the secret weapon, Da Flamingos!!!!! ;).

Got a variety crawler harnesses tied up along with some set up for shad/minnows. Hopefully they'll hook a fish or 3.

Looking for suggestions on color combinations and designs on tying crawler harnesses for trolling for walleye primarily Bull Shoals. Started getting into it last year with some generic basic store bought rigs and decided to make my own. His a couple I've rigged up already, hopefully they pull in a fish or 2 this year.

The Yella Dawg can hold her own ;). Pics from a couple weeks ago when everyone kept tagging me in that video ;).

Well done Marty. Finally got my the yella dawg ShellB sone work the other day but it was on the only 3 that worked after shooting light.

Truth. Mild temps and lack of snow cover to the north isnt helping us either.

Good to hear you found a few. I dont mess with the geese unless they happen to come into the duck spread which does happen occasionally ;). Starting to see a few more ducks around but nothing like we should be seeing this time of year of course its normally 30 to 40 degrees cooler than it has been as well ;).

Been awful down this way, so far in 3 trips I've shot a drake and hen mallard total for the season. Just not seeing any down this way yet to get me too motivated to hunt em.

Sounds like a awsome trip, congrats. Did you all see any ducks flying around while you were out?

Grandpa also engraved his name in the bolt and the side of the bolt release.