BilletHead

Now that I think I have this computer working again lets see If I can post some photos. We were in the band of ice that hit the central part of the state. What a mess but in the mess we see some beauty. Power did out for a while. Night before last when sleeping on the porch the rain was pouring down but freezing on impact. We could hear crash, crash, crash laying there as branches fell. Finally when the power went out and the electric blanket quit we were forced to hit the hay in the house. Went for a drive yesterday morning and shot these pictures. Some of the fences, Multiflora rose, if you got just the right look at it the ice magnified the thorns and rose hips, Finally pine needles, BilletHead

Well done, We got big time ice here and after a not too bad temp tonight the next two nights it will be again in the single digits and we will freeze up again! This has been a crazy South Zone season so far. We have only hunted maybe six days of good open water. BilletHead

I like the others here have been watching this thread with much interest. You are full of talent and I am amazed at what you have done. Thanks for posting this! BilletHead

Welcome home Davis

Good job Lancer for the win! I recognize some of the flys in the box. I tied the epoxy minnows yesterday. I too am really glad to have the shop here. Most of all I am glad it is far enough from home or I would soon become one of those pests who would be there hanging around every day, BlletHead

You know Duane just getting up every morning is becoming an adventure for me! BilletHead

Thanks gentlemen, had kind of a wild goose chase yesterday (no pun intended). I had a call from a friend North of here 30 miles. I met him up at four rivers teal season and then got to go with him on a hunt in the middle zone before Out South season opened. He is a Cajun from Louisiana, Bought a house for a base in Missouri to hunt ducks. He would rather hunt here than where he lives. That has to say something for what we have here in MO. He told me on his call about all of the geese (snows) that were working a field and there were ducks mixed in with them. he is going bonkers because of it being froze up and had never hunted in a dry field. He knew I had had some luck doing that and wanted me to load up my stuff and come up. So I loaded truck, my little trailer with three layouts and all my field crap I have accumulated over the last four years. He had one of his Cajun buddies up with him. We did a quick scout of the field. I know we were pretty dry here before the rain, we did not get the snow like most of you guys did. He was even drier up there. The field he had was one inch of dust on top of a lightly disked corn. He said when all the birds were there the evening before there were dust clouds in the air from so many birds stomping around. We grabbed a quick lunch and then to the field to set up hoping for the best. We had a good hide in a depression in the field. Plenty of corn stalks to put on the blinds. These to guys were plum giddy to hunt a field. As here birds were flying late so we had a long wait. One of them fell asleep and started snoring, his lab snuck over the edge and gave him a big lick We had out two and a half dozen Canada decoys, two dozen mallards and four dozen snow silo socks. Some mojos too. As the late afternoon set in a lone duck spied us and started circling, pintail one exclaimed. They started calling and down came the duck to a shot. One of them shouted a pintail in the corn, can't believe it! Well we never seen anything like that? Later a mallard hen appeared and done the same thing. I kind of felt like a semi guide as they thought this was pretty neat. Then the massive flights of snows came and then I began to think otherwise. They really wanted in this field. We literally had thousands swarming overhead. I knew with all those eyes looking down we might be in trouble. Wish it was small bunches instead but the sight was one to behold. First of all I don't even own a snow goose call or even know how to blow one. One of the guys were trying to blow on one they had. Sounded sick, soon his friend says let me try. Over me it got tossed to the other, still sounded awful, especially after it was used in conjunction with chewing tobacco. hahahha He asked his buddy if he wanted it back? No was the response I'll buy another. Funny pair. All of this while all those snows were above us. One dropped down and they shot it. Then the swarm knew there might be something amiss and they started leaving taking flocks within sight with them. I knew all the time it takes a bunch of decoys to do a mass of geese like this but I was amazed at the show. Right up until dark snows passed overhead. Nice show for sure. At least I got them into a field hunt where they did some shooting. Chalk another one up to experience. I got Canadas pretty well figured out and ducks in fields are coming along. Not sure If I even want to figure out snows at all ! Some pictures of the set up in the dust bowl, BilletHead

Another excellent report Duane. Get them while you can. BilletHead

Nice you are back into them Scott. Lots of rain here and kind of sloppy. BilletHead

hahhahaha Love it! Makes me glad I am stuck with dry fields now. Well done friend!

Thank you Duane! BilletHead

Actually bookoos birds but very localized. Big freeze up. Frozen is the word. Ok I have a pond in the middle of a disked corn field that has been drilled in wheat. I know it is being used as a roost pond. I slipped in and took a peek over the dam. Full of birds . They have a fifty yard by thirty yard place open. I thought there is no way another bird could fit as I heard a mighty roar over head as a group of a hundred ducks landed. I backed off wondering how to figure out this debacle. So I watched this mass of ducks and geese for three days. 3 to 4 hundred ducks and I bet that many geese. Since this is the only place I have birds I am not going to mess with them. They have been staying on the water until a half hour to fifteen minutes before sunset. Then come off go over some trees and feed next to the pond. From talking to Bird Watcher if I hunt them that close I will run them off. Darned if I do darned if I don't. For the time being they will be safe from me. On the way home from one of my scout trips just about dark thirty I see some Canada's come off a field close to home. So about two thirty yesterday afternoon I load three dozen full bodies in my little trailer, hook up the four wheeler and go to the field. Took my time setting up, got the layout covered with corn stubble and settled in. At 3:15 I see two ducks streaking across the sky along way off. They turn and start working the field I was in three to four hundred yards away. I call to no avail. They are up and down almost landing. Crap, I sit up and wave my arms calling loudly. Felt like an idiot as I forgot my goose flag. Worked though as the ducks turned and bee lined towards me. I duck back in the blind. They have a north west tail wind bringing them in fast. Woosh over my head, I turn to see them turn cupped and falling. Took them both out. Lucky I thought with a big smile. Get this triple bs was the load. Did not have time to change shells. From 4:30 on the geese started flying. From three miles away I could see the mass of birds come off the roost pond, straight up and back down into the field that were using. I had flocks coming from the South East from who knows where to my field. First flock of 21 birds, one pass and down they came. Got two. Then a flock of 40 or more go over and work where the ducks wanted to go down far off. Again I blew the goose call crazy, bet I sounded like a pig under a gate. Again got up and waved my arms off. It worked and they turned my way, two passes later I picked one and got my third bird. Started picking up and a couple more flocks tried to drop in. Right now they are only feeding once a day . A couple of photos, I have an adventure planned for today about 50 miles North of here. May have another report if it pans out. BilletHed

I guess I don't get to see it because I don't facebook but I do hear it and I can use my imagination! BilletHead

Thanks RPS, Also while hanging around the house I ran ten pounds of sharp cheddar through the smoker, BilletHead

Yesterday we made a run to Joplin trying to finish some holiday shopping. Decided to take the Mrs. to lunch. Hit one of those Asian buffets. Mistake! Everything tasted the same and burped up later still tasting the same:( Hit a health/ whole foods store before heading home. Kind of an oxymoron don't you think? I knew we could do a better meal with the Asian twist so today we did it. I seared tow mallard breasts to a nice rare to med. rare and sat them aside to rest. Pat had done fried rice and she had cut up celery, carrots, onion, sweet peppers, mushrooms and broccoli. I cut up some of the tabasco peppers we had grown and dehydrated. In the hot skillet went the veggies for a quick stir and heating, andante. Crispy and hot. To that we added some bottled General Tso's sauce. Ok I know from a bottle? Got it at the health food store The in went the thinly sliced duck. Now we have fully happy insides. A batch of potato rolls out of the oven so hot rolls and butter for dessert! BilletHead

All I can say is some of us waterfowlers are just a bit off Small ponds out of the wind are locking up tight around here. We just got a dusting here and there is plenty of food in the fields to keep them happy if they have any open water. Some large bunches of geese will keep a roost pond or two open. I just have to stay away from them and find the feeding fields. I am sure there will be bunches of ducks heading your all's way. Lower single digits tonight with I think Wednesday it might hit freezing for a high. Did a couple of drive bys yesterday at 23 degrees with some pretty good wind. First place took out a couple of gadwall. By the time I got back to the truck ice had formed on there feet and feathers, my fingers were hurting too. Two mallards at another place. Both of them had crops/necks full of corn. Checked out the hot spot we hunted Thanksgiving morning and the following Saturday. Literally a hundred mallards hunkered behind the dam. I left them and told them thanks for the good time. I don't mind to jump a pair of two but wouldn't massacre a flock. I am sure I will loose many birds, here is hoping they go by you guys and even stay awhile. Lower single digits here tonight, BilletHead

Thanks John P. Scott whatever I do in the morning if I go it needs to be an easy hunt like this morning, that or I need a grunt. I could go to the same place just sit looking opposite way with the wind change. Have another lake that would be good but wind change would have me smelling pig barn all morning, yuk! Jus let me know too when you get close to the BilletHead area and I will fix you up with sauce. BilletHead Also that is my first pintail that was carrying a sprig like that. All of my others were young.

After a much needed break yesterday I needed another fix. Did find more birds on another place plus a bunch of geese. There are two ponds/irrigation lakes side by side a bit staggered. While checking them out yesterday afternoon one was covered with geese and a few ducks. This water is again right next to corn stubble non disked and drilled into wheat. Geese were in the field too when I checked. There is a grass strip where I could drive right up to where I wanted to be. No to this morning. Another foggy, real foggy morning. Got unloaded and set up. A dozen goose floaters and one and a half dozen duck floaters. Did two dozen full bodies geese working the way out from pond into field. I was pretty happy with the set up. Seemed like it took forever to see some light to appear but could not see far because of fog. Soon I could hear ducks flying and then see them in and out of the fog. There was a group of five that tried to land in the corn stubble. Then some worked the decoys. First a mallard hen then a bull sprig! He had about a four inch tail. Got them picked up and then a green wing teal drake. The shooting flushed the geese that had roosted in the adjacent pond, of course the winged off to the West. So foggy I could not see them but heard them go. Sun started peeking out so I took a couple of photos of the first three ducks. Then I heard geese coming back. Ignored me and my set up and pitched back into the other pond. Soon a pair of gadwall came in and went down. I quit with the five. Not sure about tomorrow, should hunt before the big chill. Ice maybe, snow maybe and then 8 degrees Friday night. Pictures from today did not get the gadwall feathered but did clean. Speaking of, look at the fat! The pintail was fat was white and gadwall fat yellow. Hen mallard pretty much no fat but the green wing had white fat, BilletHead

From what we seen up at 4-rivers those will be the ticket Duane. I can understand DDsMC apprehension in the boat for the first time. One should be careful. I about messed up on Thursdays hunt. That Mallard we lost under the ice, well I was chasing it with the kayak. Hit the ice at and angle and it started tipping. You should of seen me smacking the water and ice trying to back peddle. Won't be doing that again! Not smart on my part, did not think it was that thick, BilletHead

Excellent report Duane. I bet those boats are neat. Awake at 2:45? Holey mackerel batman! 4:30 for us. I would of had to go to bed at 6:pm the night before to get my beauty rest, I need that for sure. The Mrs. and I had a very foggy hunt this morning. Still like pea soup when we quit at 10:15. Birds would just appear and either put feet down or just disappear in the fog. We hit plan "B" irrigation lake to rest the good spot. No wind either. Pat used the jerk string as I called. Had two spinners and a pulsator going for movement. We managed 5 gadwall,4 mallards and a shoveler. At times it was hard to tell what we were shooting at. I am pretty beat and hurting more than usual. May take the day off tomorrow. May scout some. This may be a mistake with the weather turn coming. We will freeze up again I bet, our demise here and to you all's benefit.<br />BilletHead

Yes Scott I ought to leave her alone, never thought about my backside full of buckshot. Duane she says if she puts a jalapeno on each side and wrap it in bacon would you help her try the wing out? Good luck in the morning with your wife. Isn't it pretty neat to be able to take your hunting partner home at night. BilletHead

Green heads and greenwing teal all drakes! Quite the morning for the BilletHeads today. I had to fight ice yesterday as most of our places were froze solid. Managed a couple of gadwall where the geese had kept a small spot open near shore. Our Hot pond was half frozen too but I wanted to rest it for today. Did a drive by last Evening and wind had picked up and the thaw was on so I knew we could hunt it so a plan was made. Now to this mornings hunt. We got there at dark thirty and heard birds leave in a roar. Got set up almost like the Thanksgiving hunt. So as daylight came upon us we got buzzed by teal and dumped two, then two canadas pitched in. Mrs. dumped one and all I got was a puff of feathers. Then Mallards came back and we got a couple of them. Then a spell of nothing and even the wind quit moving the decoys. Crapola I said and more teal came by so we got three more. Wind came back up and mallards rained upon us. All I can say is we should of been patient and not shot one of the teal because we finished off the morning with more green heads. Done by nine-thirty and again the later in the morning with the wind blowing quite well the birds worked better. Two of the drakes were young what you guys call dirty birds with just a bit of green showing on the heads. Now to another problem, what kind of punishment should the Mrs. get for shooting the wing of my mojo duck? She insists I will get rewarded some way? Hummmmmmm?

Along the edges where the wind doesn't hit I could walk on it. If it is going to be cold I need wind to keep the water churned and keep the ice off. The wind blown banks had no ice at all. I realize you big water guys hope for a freeze but give me a couple of three weeks please before that happens... BilletHead

Good going Scott and Scott's Bro, We had our Thanksgiving Saturday with the Son and his family so we were free today to go out. I have been watching a few places but todays choice was neat. Been spying this place for close to a month. Last two weeks mallards dumping in. Irrigation lake where ducks can walk right out of the water into bean and corn stubble. Kind of a risky hunt as the ducks have no reason to leave, all they need is right there. Well sure enough we bust bookoos birds off and as we set up we kept seeing them try to land on us in the faint glow from the east light. Took out three hens and four drakes as they trickled back in. Had another drake cripple get away and go under the ice. We called the morning and as we were putting stuff into the truck more dropped in. One of our drakes was just getting a green head. Photos from today, BilletHead

Yes I am thankful for my God, Family and friends here on Ozarks Anglers. Happy Thanksgiving all and have great day tomorrow! Mr. and Mrs. BilletHead