BilletHead

I feel they move as the weather changes to what ther prefer. I have a friend that said they flew over the St. Louis area in waves yesterday. Marty

Thanks Scott, It was my highlight too:) Thanks for the invite to hunt this weekend but my son and his family will be here for a visit. I have 4 doz. Silosocks too, never had them all out yet. I had to help Mom out on a project today and there was one lone snow walking around a pasture on the way over there. I see white birds and think of you now. I called where you recommended for the can mount and asked some questions. May get the bird sent first of the week. 8-10 months is a long time. I could be hunting the next season when I get it back. This was my best season so far here. Especially on the geese. Marty

Don't know them and this shooting was not rabbit hunters. I have a friend who used to help a waterfowl outfitter in that area. They have a bunch of private ground leased. Pat and I seen quite a few whote birds up there three weeks ago. Duane can attest to some up there too as he got some while duck hunting. Marty

You know yesterday morning it was pretty quiet. When it is like that we can hear shooting a long way off. From our hunt Pat and I could hear alot of shooting north and North West of us I would say a line from Walker to Compton Junction area. Maybe even as far north as Four Rivers. I would guess Snow goose hunters. Not Canadas as they would of been done quick as much shooting as there was. Volleys of six to ten shots at a time, Marty

"Mary" here, got to type a bit slower don't I ? I will be watching for the whites. Seeing some now and again. Only place I have seen them in the fields were South West of Sheldon. Those were staying near Camp Clark but they are gone now. Pat and I seen a bunch yesterday From and going to Schell I bet. MARTY

I was a good time. Man you should see the photos of me back then. I was just a kid. Thanks for unleashing some memories Chris. What a hoot! Marty

This is one of the things that kept Chris laughing Friday. It involves a couple of flatlanders with flat land horses and a trip to the mountains of Montana.in 1983 . He knows the story pretty well. It now rests at a neighbors where it is used for storage. Man it brings back memories of more youthful days. I have been looking at old photos of this trip. I will share more someday with you all. I need to learn how to scan some of these old pictures. For now here is some of it's resting in peace, now a home for rodents, snakes and what ever, Marty

Good hunt Chris. Tell you dad he looks good in the FuManchew. Pat says If I darken my Van Dyke I would look younger so I said ok then she says stay gray. Yes it is expensive driving a trip like you do up here. But you would miss laughing at me. Geese all over here today. I have my blinders on though. Pat and I finished scraping the carpet off the boat and it is now at the body shop in like for the bed liner. Mary

An onion, good description Chris. I will get a photo of the bus for you to see. You laughed your rear off about that. hahahaha Marty

I thought I might get to sleep in this morning Duane, Sure could not ignore Pat's request. I seen your report from today and you have me itching to fish. i may have to come down and bug you some time. Marty

I only thought I was done. Last night Pat says are you going to take me one more time? Well a man doesn't want to pass up a trip with his spouse. Up early and load the decoys on the trailer to be pulled with the ATV. So my bride of 34 years and I head for the nearest pond. Have not been there in a while. Just a stab in the dark and hope the birds fly. Got there to sit up and hear a few geese lift off. While sitting up some flew in. In the dark I could not see them but Pat got a better look and said there was at least three.. All set up now and time to lay back. Sun is rising and it is beautiful. Soon we see ducks, lots of ducks and 23 dump right in to the goose decoys. This is the first time Pat has seen this many decoy into your face. We watch them go to shore and start dipping. She says this made my trip. A bit later four geese come right in and we got one. Close they were and Pat missed. She says I can't beleve it? I think she tried too hard. We see more ducks and geese in the distance. Soon more ducks circle and leave. Then a lone hen mallard sits down. She soon leaves, another big bunch comes buy and a drake drops down. Ducks galore. He leaves and a group of 25 dump in. Pat says where were all these when we wanted them? Crazy birds and all we seen were heading South into a South West wind. Then a single goose comes from the South West. Circles twice and dumps in, right on top of us again. I tell Pat shoot him in the face! And just as his feet hit the water she does. Good shot babe! Got him retrived and now she is on target. More ducks in the distance, but geese also and they want us. In they come a group of twenty. Three hit the water. Two swim to shore and we each have to chase down and shoot again. We are happy and sit there in the sun and reflect on our season. Starting in October I get to see Pat shoot her first goose, then her first duck in November. She went with me ten times this season, you all don't know how lucky I feel. Had a friend from St. Louis make two trips down and hunt six days. Got to visit with ducky doty in person once and he let me bend his ear on the phone twice. Able to meet and hunt with Bird Watcher. Correspond with fins and Feathers too. My first white-fronts and a canvasback. Pretty cool to share some of these hunts with folks on Ozarks Anglers. Thank you Phil for having this place. Time to catch up with things I need to do and there are fish to be caught This mornings photos for you all. One of part of our set up, me and Pat with our birds, Marty

Mr. and Mrs. BilletHead would do the hundred also, but we also know it is your rear on the line. Marty

Sadie, our fishing companion, Marty

What a fun hunt. Bird Watcher and I made the meet and greet this morning at 6 AM. Set up the decoys and ourselves. FOGGY and damp. Later on in the mornning a bunch after bunch came up from a lake/pond just to the South and went the other way, maybe they will come back later? Nope but the company was good. We had a good visit. Seven hours worth and it did not seem that long. We will hunt again I bet. thanks Chris for the morning, Marty

hahahaa Duane, good answer young man. I had the pleasure of meeting Bird Watcher and his lab. What a pleasant dog. I did not know a dog could lay that still.. Marty

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