DADAKOTA

Great pic John. Looks like another awesome trip.

Ever get any cans or redheads down there?

Cured some skin on mallard breasts and then cold smoked them over hickory/apple/cherry for about 3 hours. Cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap, and put in the fridge for a couple days. The result was seriously tasty duck bacon.

Looks like an awesome hunt John. Can't believe green wings are still hanging around but they sure are.

Sunday was literally a case of being on the X. Flock after flock cycloning down into our spread. Non-stop action from small groups to 200+ trying to finish 10 yards from your feet. Quite possibly the most spectacular duck action I've been a part of. Definitely top 3. The poor sprig in one group felt the wrath of at least 4 guns. I'd of been the 5th, but he died before I could hit the trigger.

Great hunting with ya John. Wish they would have cooperated a little better. I totally agree with your thoughts on layout blinds. I'm usually last to the party when they say take em.

Kent is a good shell. I'll never run federals through my shotguns again. Dirtiest shells made.

Looking forward to it John.

As for this season it has been a strange one, but one of the better one's I have had recently. Spent many days in the field with my Son and friends. Lots of laughs, hard work, long hikes, and seeing the ducks work into the decoys. No complaints here other than some folks have no common courtesy in the marsh. Until this freeze up we have had several really good hunts. Now it is time to start dry field hunting ducks. Can't wait.

A pair of mallard drakes sailed into our spread yesterday and stayed with us. I went to pick them up and was surprised by the coloration of this one. I first thought it was an eclipse drake but have never seen the blondish feathers and white feathers on one. This oddball was much smaller than the other drake. Out of curiosity would this bird count toward your mallard harvest or is it an "other" duck. Sent pics to a duck biologist who said it is a hybrid with a "park duck" of some sort.

Love reading your posts John as I know I'll see pics of a yella dog.

Really good folks in that group. Kudos to all that helped make this a great event.

How are you weighting the brush. I've used cinder blocks and wired them or tied them with nylon rope. Both eventually come loose. Any better ideas?

I totally understand your frustrations. Hunted a walk in area a week or so ago. The part of the area we chose to hunt has enough water for one party and we arrived early. while getting boots one had some guys drive up and ask where we were going. After we told them they said they were going to another section. Had some late arrivals that had not drawn in at the local CA. Asked where they were going and the guy tells me by the refuge line. Told him he'd be about 60 yards from us and that the area was only large enough for one party. He asked why is that? and I let him now that only 1/3 of the field had any water. Figured I'd save them a walk. Sure enough 10 minutes from shooting time here they come. They split their group and had 2 about 55 yards to our left front and 2 more set up about 50 yards to our right front along a tree row. Way too close and one of my buddies loudly told them so. After watching these morons sky bust and pass shoot birds at 70 yards my buddy hollers at them to let the birds work and quit skybusting. They yelled back "Its public hunting". They lasted about an hour and a half before leaving the area. Their tally was 2 crippled birds that they never retrieved. It amazes me how few hunters have any common courtesy anymore. If they'd have sat back and waited they could have had the spot we hunted as we were done by about 9.

Wow

Be prepared to stay the entire day. Often times the last 2 hours are the best at Schell.

Some real bruisers. Congrats on a great trip.

How much on the electric start 25

Great thread. Would a spring gun be mire accurate than the compressed air guns? Which has the higher fps. Needing to whack some squirrels in the yard.

Nothing more than a replicating lathe.

SO sorry to hear another great man has passed. Prayers for the family and friends.

Me three

MoCarp - If you knew folks were selling gamefish or deer, why did you not turn them in? The MDC sets the limits on game and fish and this State has some great angling. If a person legally wants to harvest a limit then so be it. Not sure what the point of your post is. Do you object to folks harvesting and utilizing fish and game? Are you claiming that these pics represent lawbreakers?

We call them brain balls

Are you slow trolling the jig and crawler or casting it? If casting are you hopping it back, dragging it, or just slow retrieving it near the bottom.