JohnP

Awsome hunt and great write up as usual Marty. I'm really bummed we couldn't make a hunt work out this year, hopefully next season the stars will align alil better for us.

That's some good stuff and a great recap of the hunts Marty. Congrats on a couple awsome hunts that I'm sure they'll remember for the rest of their lives.

We'll get it figured out but times running out ;).

No worries DD, it was a long shot as I get poor reception down that way and didn't know if it went thru. Was Buster in the white Mako? Looked like him but didnt realize that till after I was getting out of his way. They were pull out behind us and the client said they'd caught a few good crappie from up that way. May just replace the shotgun with the rod and focus on fishing at least down here ;).

...... it's time to break out the flamingos and fishing poles ;). Sat til 11am and seen 6 distant ducks total all morning. Did have a crow caller with us and called in a couple flocks and managed to drop one and shot at a few others so the morning wasn't a total bust with the guns. Broke out the poles and fished til 3:30 targeting crappie. Struggled at first but finally found a brush pile that was holding some and it didn't matter what color jig we threw they hit it, unfortunately other than one keeper they were all 7 to 9 inches with a few pushing the 10 inch mark. Still fun catching them and caught 30 to 40 between us. Bonus catch of the day an A-rig ;).

Just keep at it Lancer. Been at it over 20 years and I'm still learning. Biggest key I believe is location and movement. Seen too many guys want to see where the birds and can't understand why they keep flaring. Remember if you can them they can see you. Also think of your set and blind on how it looks from above not from the ground level. Another thing to think is movement on the water if thereso no wind and the dekes are just sitting there birds have had long enough to figure out somethings not right. Rig a couple dekes to a jerk string and get to yanking to create ripples on the water.

I'd have to agree Tho1mas

Congrats on a awsome hunt and harvest. Wind was fierce down here today can only imagine what it was like up there. Had to chase down 2 ducks dekes, 4 goose floaters, and a goose shell across the cut we hunted in this morning.

Considering it was 54 degrees when we put in and 70 when we pulled out and the 30 mph wind gusts it was a good day. The sunrise was probably one of the best ive seen in a while. Should of had our full 2 man limits of mallards and our bonus ducks of gadwal but our fine shooting displays proved other wise, of course we'll blame it on the wind, which is probably a valid excuse this mroning. Dropped the first 2 with no problem then the wind kicked in high gear and struggled hitting anything after that but did manage to pick up 2 more after a box and a half of shells were shot between us :(. Pretty bad when you shoot into the wind and the wad ends up behind you or the wad makes a hard 90 turn leaving the barrel ;). Good time non the less with a great friend even if we did get wet on the boat ride back, glad it was 70 and not 17 degrees ;). No he wasn't riding up front. He was washing down the front deck after being sand blasted and not being able to see Thought this was an interesting pic of the graph showing waves of the boat going up and down.

Still got both bow tags to fill so I may start being less picky and let one fly this next week. Been chasing a decent buck around this season and just when I'm about ready to give up on him and start chasing ducks alil more seriously he shows himself. Might be different tho if I was seeing any #'s of birds ;). Hopefully the snow up north and cold front will push some down for my days off next week beginning monday.

Not completely bu5 slowly getting there ;).

Fat Daddys BBQ with a Ballast Point Sculpin to wash it down.

.........and only one for the day :(. After scouting yesterday and the cold front I had fair elevated hopes that this morning was going to be better than it was but that's been part for the season down here anyways. Long story short seen maybe a dozen birds til the time I left at 1130 and only a lone greenhead wanted to play shortly after shooting time. Did have 3 in the dekes 10 mins before shooting time. Long sit this morning with the yella dawg but still a good morning to be out.

Lazy dinner night. Shock Top Belgian White with a Qdoba Burrito bowl.

Sounds like a awsome way to finish of 2016 and welcome in 2017 to me Marty. Beats the way i did it by sleeping and working midnight shift. First time in 15 years that I haven't hunted something on the last day and first day of year :(.

That's awsome Marty and what a way to introduce a new hunter to the mad world of waterfowling;).

One of my Boys got a few days leave from the Air Force and shot a few on Bull Shoals this morning with a couple buddies before the rain moved in. Said they seen around 100 total just couldnt get very many to play. They knew where they wanted to be and it wasn't with where they were.

Heard a lil shooting on Taneycomo yesterday but driving around scouting yesterday I did not finding any birds other than cheeto eaters aka local park birds. Didn't get out today so don't know if any showed up overnight or not.

Gave the Single Wide IPA a chance a couple weeks ago. Little too bitter for my liking but wasn't too bad. Been leaning more on Shocktop Belgian White lately Took a trip to So. California to visit my brother and his family a couple months back and he got me hooked on Lagunitas Stoopid WIT and Ballast Point Sculpin while we were there. Just alil pricey for me ;).

Actually was done medium rare to medium ;).

First off I'm sorry BilletHead, i did soak the goose breast over night in water while I tried to figure out what I was going to do with. On the plus side I did NOT marinade it just seasoned ;). Shot 3 geese and 3 ducks yesterday and been wanting to smoke them but never smoking waterfowl before didnt want to cook them all up and not like it. So took 2 of the goose breast and smoked them up using Cherrywood in the Masterbuilt electric smoker. Preheated the smoker to 235 degrees. Rinsed off the breast, patted dry, and seasoned one with salt pepper and garlic and the other with Mccormicks burbon and brown sugar seasoning before wrapping in bacon. Smoked for almost 2 hours before reaching a internal temp of 155 degrees. Foiled each separately and let them rest for 15 minutes before slicing them up. Can't decide which one I like better their both mouth watering good. They'd go good on a bed of wild rice with some asparagus but I doubt it will make it that long ;).

It should or at least get the birds that are around off the ponds that should be freezing up and onto to the lake. Scouted Bull Shoals daily on my days off up to this week and have seen maybe a few divers and a few gaddies but nothing concentrated.

Not bad for my first duck hunt of the season. Usually have several hunts under my belt by now but this year I've been focusing more on bow hunting, mainly because we haven't seen really any huntable # of birds til recently and I keep hoping that the big mature buck I keep getting on camera will make a mistake and show up while I'm on the stand ;). Hunted a farm pond with a buddy and had our chances at 2 full limits of ducks (mostly gaddies, with a few mallets, a couple hooded sawbills, and a couple hollywoods) but passed on a couple early flight just after shooting time so ended up with 6 ducks. Had a group of 6 gaddies drop in (4 didn't leave) then a pair of mallets drop in and stay. shortly after10am had 10 honkers tried to sneak in on us without making a sound and lit in the dekes (let 4 leave). All in all a great morning with a good friend and the yella dawg ShellB. Didn't see near the #'s of birds we expected to see but not complaining.

Know why it's quiet down here as the ducks haven't shown up and if they have their not where I'm scouting or buddies are hunting and you guys are being tight lipped/fingered about it ;). hearing of a couple being shot or shot at here and there buto no good #'s . still trying to fill a bow tag before a good northern freeze before I get to excited about duck hunting.

I bought a Masterbuilt electric smoker last year with the digital read out and blue tooth to connect to the smartphone app so you monitor the temps and set timers. can also control the heat as needed. no messing with charcoal or gas. still learning it and don't use it much as I'd like but for what have done it love it. Backstrap from my boys doe smoked up on tuesday for him for a party he went to. 3 wild turkey breast from this past spring getting smoked up yesterday for today.