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

Tree rats are good and we eat them at our house. One year I even pressure canned them. Unreal good eats. Best way to tenderize them. Pop open a jar and the meat would fall off the bones. Make squirrel salad like you would do canned tuna. Eat with crackers or on bread. Drink the broth out of the jars. BilletHead

That looks good Mitch! We had some of the Mrs. BilletHeads homemade vegetable soup with her potato rolls. I sometimes think soup is an under rated meal. What more can you ask for? Everything in one bowl, BilletHead

Just like any other animal except We don't sniff where we want to go. At least I don't. Can't really speak for some of these other critters on here that hunt, BilletHead

Dang it Duane I was only 20 seconds late.

Boy you guys go all out. Actually I loose weight doing this. Normally I am close to home and have short hunts on local ponds and fields. I almost never get hungry when I am busy so I just do without . Big bowl of cereal and coffee before the hunt either on the road or at home. Then when done one big afternoon meal when it is the Mrs. and I. I am getting where I don't do late big Evening meals too well. (acid reflux when too spicy or too much) When I am solo a small noon meal after the hunt then a small Evening meal when the Mrs. gets home after work. Mrs. did say this weekend wouldn't it be neat to have a boat or big blind and cook breakfast, make coffee, etc. I weighed 189 last week and after messing around four days I am now 184. And no it isn't that I am full of crap. The guy that I met and went with yesterday opened his blind bag and it looked like he had just been out knocking on doors for Halloween plus a fist full of honey buns. He munched during the hunt. BilletHead

Lots of them around and working. We only shot two of them. Five mallards, four teal and a gadwall. The way the morning started slow we decided to shoot a teal now and then. Should of waited. Later on the sun tried to peek out of the clouds and then the blitz started. This hunt rated close to the field hunt Birdwatcher took me to last year, BilletHead

Yesterday the Mrs. and I only got two. Today I went with a real duck hunter. The one who I told you about that were North West of our hide. Smashed them I tell you, BilletHead really needs a marsh boat to run with the big dogs. Staying with the kayak and ponds though

I bet that is yummy Scott. Plus you get a "10" for plating the feast. Oh yea by the way tore them up this morning, BilletHead

Way to go Mr. Howerton! That is way neat, BilletHead

Thanks from a non vet. BilletHead

Your welcome Phil. A very enlightening experience the first time I popped one of the morsels in my mouth. A light went on. Some folks don't know what they are missing. BilleHead

hahahaha I have never worked much with them. Got to have some fat and duck fat is the bomb!

We eat so well around here. Todays menu Seared teal on the charcoal grill with fixings. Prepared three of the teal from yesterday, the three bluewings. These birds were fat, fatest teal I have ever cleaned. Seal salt on both sides and let the meat come to room temperate. Pitch them on the hot grill skin side down. When the skin heats up the fat will flow and then flames! Don't let them burn cover them up and let them get happy, Check them once and a while. I have all the vents closed so you don't want the coals out. You want the skin crispy and the meat rare so timing is the key. Be ready as the drippings will almost explode when oxygen hits the coals during the flipping. So flip them for a spell, This process will go fast and I bet less than ten minutes pass before yanking the meat off the grill. Let the meat rest for three or four minutes for the juices to redistribute. This is what your looking for in doneness. Final plating. Half a baked sweet potato, fall lettuce right out of the garden. The Mrs. had just pulled home made potato rolls out of the oven. Timing was everything in making this today. She was picking the salad as I was grilling, Bon Appetit BilletHead

No problem Duane. I could hear the anticipation in your voice. Like I figured that was the place my friend went to. He had no shotgun so he borrowed mine. Good haul of birds. Did the wind get up during the hunt? It did here. My buddy also said the wind made a difference in his hunt. So certain stations were better, BilletHead

Monday night 30% rain snow mix 29 degrees Tuesday 38 and 22 Tuesday night. Hope it doesn't push them too far, BilletHead

Todays take, BilletHead

Believe me we are really blessed here at the BilletHead household! Ness it is the same cure I did for the goose. Cured in a brine for ten days. Put in the smoker with smoke on for three to four hours then finish off. I have control for smoke and heat in my smoker. Took longer to reach internal temp but I am sure it would of went quicker in the oven. Here is where I got the recipe. http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=440836 The corned goose is kind of similar but with out smoking and just boiled. We did the corned in in the crock pot cooking slower and longer. Recipe for the corned. http://flocknockers.com/showthread.php?t=64341 I am sure it will work for deer and we will be trying it. One thing we did instead of pre slicing like it calls for is to leave the goose breasts whole and injecting the cure like the pastrami. BilletHead

Yes it was Ness. Same way in and out. Only had to stop twice going in. Eight on the way out. I think if I ask she would do it again, not me as I try not to make mistakes twice. I did an easy paddle in and out in the kayak this morning with minimal gear. Quick limit of teal. BilletHead