BilletHead

I know we are off and a tanget here from the origional post kind of but it says nothing about rods and reels here, If you use more than 3 poles (or two poles on the Mississippi River) at any one time, the additional poles must be labeled with your full name and address. Regardless of the method or number of poles, you may not use more than a total of 33 hooks at any one time; except on the Mississippi River the maximum is 50 hooks at one time. If fishing on the Mississippi River and on other Missouri waters at the same time, no more than 50 hooks may be used and not more than 33 on waters other than the Mississippi. Hooks on trotlines must be staged at least 2 feet apart. Hooks on any type of line, as well as the line itself, must be attended every 24 hours or removed. Marty

Could be Jim but I never seen anyone get ticket for it and I know for a fact they watch very close up there thanks, Marty

I know what you mean Duane, I needed to fill this order to be able to go tomorrow. I made sure I could fill this or I wouldn't of been able to go. It is nice to gift to folks. Neighbors who cannot fish anymore really like a mess of crappie fillets. Someday we might get like this and thinking karma might get around. I hope to have a friend like me someday. Does that sound wierd? Sure not ment to be. Marty what goes around comes around

You can have here in Missouri If i remember right up to 33 hooks per line if it is labeled. Trot line? Many moons ago when I fished below Truman Dam when they Allowed remote control boats to go all the way to the dam. Guys would rig with several baits and when they had enough fish to sink a two litre bottle they would crank it in. I think this was some of the demise of the breeding stock that made it illegal to use boats that went clear to the dam. Marty

You bet ya we are on! I doubt you know this place. You would have to be lost to find it. If you did know where it is you would know of my home base. Marty

Here we go again, I was pretty excited for Chris and I to hunt together I did not sleep to well. Been solo most of this season. Six or so mornings with Pat and six with a friend from St. Louis. So the idea of meeting and hunting is cool. 4:30 I was wide awake and Pat said get out of bed and go. In my scouting trips last few days I have seen several pairs here and there. One of the places is right around the corner from the house. This place is 40 acres and has 5 small ponds on it. I know towards the end of season pairs show up here. Last Spring 17 goslings were hatched there. Well yesterday afternoon on the way back from scouting for the hunt with Chris the pair had grown to a butt load of geese on the pasture and pond. A man has to do it right? I loaded my trailer behing my atv and threw in some decoys. A short ride and I am there. Unload my junk and hide my ride. there is a small island when the pond is full but being low it is a dry walk to a small stand of birch brush. This is my hide. In the middle of setting up in the dark I hear geese. Sounded like a pair and they dumped in, in the dark and I have my head lamp on. I mean 40 yards or less from me. I continue setting up and they stay. I make my nest, load up and shut off the light trying my best to see these birds. Getting light enough I can see my floaters but not my shore sets. Then I can see the reflection of my shore birds but there are more reflections than I set out. Finally I see heads bobbing up and down, they see me and go. There was 4. Daylight came and a pair sailed in. I took them out. Then I could hear a bunch of birds to the south. I in no way expected the birds to come from there but they did. First two circled and landed in the pasture 60 plus yards away. Another lesson learned, I figured if water was there that is where birds will land, Not so. They started milling around when a group of 20 came over circled and cupped. Dropped in, right in and my last bird hit the water. Started picking up and had several more groups circle. Picked up and went home to clean birds. Got them cleaned, vacumn sealed, put on ice and delivered to a family who wants to try goose. Some pictures of the pond and my willy nilly set up. Marty

Normal for who? If we have a normal season I will be able to hunt dry land though. Will be lacking ducks too but you big water hunters will be happy. Whats wrong with that tree rat? Doesn't he know that is bad for his health? Marty

About 6 will be great Chris. Sounds good to me. Yes the gate thing.. It was locked early in season and then not locked for a couple of weeks. Locked again and then unlocked yesterday. They have been terracing to the West the past few days and going in there. I am looking forward to tomorrow so you can show an old dog a new trick or two. Excited enough I was awake at 4:30 this morning and Pat said get out of bed and go out. I hunted a half mile from home, story to follow. i am at least 8 miles from where we will be in the morning and I made a drive and birds are there Marty

Oh yea I scratch my head a bunch, seen my head? What isn't scratched off wondering why Pat keeps peeled off with the razor.

Scott that sounds like work. I'm telling you I make it easy because of necessity and it is working for me here. Maybe my willy nilly decoy spread looks good or like I said I am removing the stupid geese maybe. Sure I have had myself ignored but last year I have had fifty plus come to a dozen field decoys at once. Got more decoys now to help. Will have Bird watcher teach me something too Marty

We will make it a hunt Thursday at the windmill then. Yes the levee is bare but that is where I have been hiding the two time I hunted there and it worked. I will have my two layouts if we want to use them. I used it the times there and just surrounded it with big foot's Might be I am just removing the not so smart geese from the gene pool. Mike has put a lock on the gate there. He said it is not to keep us out and to use the North gate. We have had four arson fires Sunday night and two of them close to his house. One burned a bunch of hay bales less than a mile from his house, not his hay but a bummer for someone for sure. Marty

Yes Slider join the club. Kind of gets under your skin. The stories are great. I tend to get long winded with mine giving a blow by blow account while others get to the point. Diversity makes us all unique. Bird Watcher, Got out around nine for a look see. Nothing at Mikes house and nothing in the field behind. About thirty on the trailer house (red dog) pond. Then at the windmill at least fifty in the field between the pond and windmill. Over on the highway where they have been going, none which is hard to beleve. This afternoon the run found twenty at the trailer pond and close to a hundred at the windmill. Spread out all over. On the North side in the water and the bulk West of the pond eating grass I suppose. Not sure if they are now roosting there or just started using it for a change? What day you want to try? 40% chance rain tomorrow East wind 6-9 mph. Thursday North wind 6-11 mph.

I will do a little recon today and see what I can find out. Marty

Sounds good but remember I have 4wheeler too if needed and the little trailer. How do you think I haul all my crap around? If I have to use my back it isn't going to happen. Not lazy just unable. Marty

Wednesday will work fine, Might rain Wednesday and if it looks like it may be bad Thursday or Friday if you want. MArty

Anyday, anytime. Pat says she is to the point she will go if I don't want to go alone. You make the call. I am a lucky hunter. I need a skilled hunter to learn from. Just say when, Marty

No webbed feet either! Those are nice Chris. Well done, Marty

Chris, I was thinking about quitting until Mike V. called and left me a message on my cell. Did not get it until this morning. He was watching them in bunches drop back to his home pond about 4:45 last Evening. He was wanting me to come over and get more? Was wanting to check with you first:) They have been mostly going to the borrow ponds along the highway where the ramps were built and then back. Marty

I plan on doing that as I find out how much it might cost. I need to know the place to take it. So all of you please give me your all's input please. He is now layed neatly in a double plastic bagm in the deep freeze. Considering the places I hunt I may never see another one ever. I am still stoked about it. Thanks friends for the congrads, Marty

Neat deal Feathers. I see some green wings in there too. I like those teal, Marty

Way to go out Duane. Nice to know you must be feeling better. Marty

Ever seen a grown man cry? My friend had one more morning to hunt and then head home. After a couple good hunts he needed one goose to take home and I lacked one duck for my possesion limit for the season. We had seen bookoos ducks bombing this pond where geese were roosted yesterday. This was the destination for the morning. We did not take any goose decoys for this hunt. Got set up and layed back for the morning. Right off three mallards set down. Two drakes and a hen. We said shall we shoot? Then two canadas pitched in and I said Brad there is your goose and he whacked one, ducks flew off. Then, no ducks but geese buzzing us looking for friends. Don't need more geese but ducks. Three more ducks circled and left. Later it got. Nine and Brad says let's give it to ten? Ok then more ducks circling. He calls, they leave. I am ready to call it and we pick up. Yesterday 18 and North wind. Today 35 when we start with a stout south wind. In the 50's when we quit with a stronger wind. weather change mess up the duck flight? Hummmmm? We drive back to the house and I say let's check a pond or two so I can maybe jump my last duck. Not the way I want to finish but to finish out might as well. We see a few ducks and many, many geese but no ducks to sneak on. Got home and cleaned the goose, ate some lunch and loaded up Brad and said our good by's. We had a great time, good food and visit. Got pretty quiet here and Pat asked what's a matter. I said you want to go for a ride? Why she says? Let's run the ponds again. Sure I'm game and we load back up my gun. Checked four ponds, more geese but no ducks. I said one more, allright, Ok. Last place, Bird Watcher has seen me there decoying before. Long pond, very windy, white capping. I peek over and see one duck in the middle, dead center way off. I go back to the truck and get the binoculars, look again. I cannot beleve what I am seeing. A canvasback? I go back to the truck. Get back and tell Pat you got to see this. She looks, says Wow. Now I have only seen three flying before in My 37 years in Missouri where I live and now to see one here. Big water only I thought. What is the plan she says? Uh why don't you walk way around and see if it will fly off or head this way. I load up and sit in the grass and Pat makes a long walk. When she appears the can perks up and swims to the far side and starts getting antsy. I wave her back and as she gets far away the bird starts diving and feeding. I start a long walk to the nearst cover each time he dives I move. This went on for ten minites. Pat says pretty funny as I don't sneak or walk too well sometimes. I get what I think is pretty close and then go to my hands and knees in the weeds. Go further and cannot see him, then to my belly. You think I walk funny you should see me crawl! I peer to where I think he is. No see but i can see Pat still looking in the water. I get up a bit, CRAP! You know that Aflac commerical. I think we both had that look. By the time i got the gun up he was on the run and I shot. He went down. I cannot beleve it. Give out a war hoop as he went belly up. Got back to Pat a little shook up. Going to be a long wait until he gets to the dam. then she says he's gone. I grab the looking glass as she says I see him, I don't, I see him, I don't. Messing with me she was as it had went up and down with the waves in and out of sight. Finally got him in my hands and did my thanks. Beautiful bird. I can get a bit emotional at times and did get teary eyed from this. Witnessed by my loving wife. What a fine way to end this season. Marty For got to say #2s and I only hit it once in the neck.

Yes Duane it was fun.. I enjoy hearing what others are doing. I have alot to learn and about all I can share is my luck. I am glad this is a place to do so. I have learned that scouting is a key element. Bird Watcher is a prime example of that. I know he burns up the road keeping an eye on his birds. His success shows. Having several places to hunt so as to be flexable. It is neat to see the variety of birds you big water hunters get. Puddlers are there and divers too. Learning not to call too much and if birds are going somewhere in particular that is where they are going weither you like it or not, for me anyway. Cannot seem to change there minds. Weather is important to us all. I know some sufferd but I have had the best goose season this year but I have only did this seriously three years.Open ponds most of the time. Did a couple of field hunts in the October goose and then today. All others ponds. My first white-fronts because of warm and some stayed here instead of going South. Being thankful for every parcel of private ground you have to hunt, thankful too to Bird Watcher for letting me infringe a bit on his. I know I am welcome on that farm but don't want to mess up some other persons hard work. Thankful I am to have friends on this forum, Marty

Darn it duane! You have to be sick to keep you from going. Marty

Another good day. Field hunt real nice and COLD! Eighteen with a brisk North wind. Early had some snows come out of nowhere flying pretty low just passing by. One did not get to make the trip with his friends. Coud hear birds on roost ponds. Soon a pair decoyed and we got them both. Lots and lots of ducks flying. Dropping into ponds East and West of us. I think I seen more ducks today that I have all season. We did get buzzed by a few but they wanted water. When we shot at geese ducks would fly up and go right back to ponds they were at. Go figure we were not at water today. Soon geese got up off roosts but did not want to decoy. they had plans and we were not part of that but some flew too close and they like the snow did not get to continue ther plans for the day. Picked up at eleven with wind burned faces. As I set here it feels like my face is on fire. 30 here right now and supposed to warm up to 35 at first light with a big south wind. If my friend twists my arm a bit we may have to finish out with a duck or two before he heads home. Not going to take any goose decoys tomorrow just a handfull of duck deeks. Here is picture of the canadas. Froze the pretty white snow to gift to a neighbors Grandson for a taxidermy course in his school. Marty