BilletHead

Finally got on this palce again. Two differnt birds Report a bit later, got to wind down. It was a hoot! Thanks Chris for getting this started, BilletHead

Finally worked for me at 12:46 PM Been off for three days, whatever you did Phil thanks! BilletHead

The BilletHeads send Christmas greetings to all, BilletHead

Way to go Duane! Those greenwing with a layer of fat are some good eats for sure. Ponds icing here and after tomorrow it may get hard to hunt. BilletHead

Yep remember those also.. Had one. How about the rocket where you filled it with vinegar, had a little capsule in the bottom you put baking soda in. You tipped the rocket mixing the stuff up and quickly put it on the launcher. Waited a few seconds for pressure to build up and released the trigger. A big woosh and up it went. Oh the memories. Grew up in So. California. Had this big Church on a hill. For erosion control on the hill side iceplant was planted. We used to go to the furniture store and get a big box. Opened it up, rolled the front some like a sled and rode that sucker down the hill. It would scream to the bottom. No video games just pure imagination. I am feeling old now, BilletHead

While walking thru Harbor Freight the other day, I about broke my neck when I saw a display of aero copters. The misses says 'what the heck are those?' I said you shot them in the air and they helicopter back to earth. Heck, I remember them from the early 70's...I'm surprised they were not outlawed by some sue-happy people as you could shoot someone's eye out with them!! I used to tweek the rubber band on them to get extra height shooting them in the air. We HAVE to get those for the grandkids!!!! And we did!! Now back to yesterday when we had Christmas with our son and family...when opening their goodies, they looked at them like what the heck is this!' I told them what they were and said we would play with them later this weekend. They got shoved to the back of the pile and were forgotten. Now, to today, as we ate our goose fajitas for lunch, I told the grandkids as soon as we finished we would go out and shoot the helicopters things. They gave me a funny look, and after cleaning up lunch, we got them out. They each opened their 2 packs of whirly birds, chose a color, stick, and rubber band. They looked at the stick and rubberband like what do I do with this! I showed them how to attach the rubberband to the stick and thought to myself at their age I had made many rubberband guns and beanie flippers terrorizing the neighborhood. Boy how times have changed!! Anyway, of to the field we went; told them what they needed to do; confusion set in and with a little encouragement and further instructions the first one was launched. Giggles and screams ensued, as they rocketed skyward and twirled back down. Next thing I know the son and daughter-in-law got involved....as I realized that my son had never had one of these. I grabbed the camera and shot some photos to share!! BilletHead

Son and family here for a couple of days for Christmas visit. Got some one on one hunting with him this morning. Not many ducks again. A bit like yesterday with the wife. We both wiffed on a lone greenwing at first shooting light. Couldn't beleve it. A bit later three ringnecks sounding like fighter jets rocketed in and landed before us to the right of the spread. I asked if he wanted to take ducks home and, yes he said and with that they took off right in front of us. We dumped the trio. A bit later a single shot in and I told the son take him and with a smooth swing and a shot that bird crashed. He was elated and dad was too with his shooting. Several bunches of geese both canads and snows flying but high and going places. About 8:30 four canadas from way up cupped and came straight down farther out that I wanted but the boy got one of them. Sat a bit longer and called it quits. Picked up and let him jump a pond on the way back to the house, he got another canada to his take for the day.. Good times for father and son. A couple of photos with one missing goose, BilletHead

Big push of ducks here the 13th -17th and now thin again. I figured they would stay a few days here and towards you all more South. Where did they go? Billethead

Thanks friends, Gilly you would be suprised at the type of waterfowl blinds we use here in South West Missouri.

Went this morning with Mrs. BilletHead to a pond. Got set up mostly expecting ducks. One goose on this pond and he got up in the dark. As we set up you could hear him flying a big circut around us. When we finally got set up he dumped right in the middle of the goose decoys. It was so dark and he was so still you could not tell if he was one of the decoys or not. I told the Mrs. We need to get into the layout blinds. He got up and left. We layed there and seen geese go here and there willy nilly. Then around 7:30 a group of ten came over the trees close and set there wings. No time to change shot sizes and I told Pat we will have to shoot them in the face since #4s heavy metal is what we had in. Closer and closer with feet hanging down. I said now get them. Pat shot once and I took a bird. Now the best part. Mrs. BilletHead dumped two with her shot, me one. Pat said did I get two and I replyed yes because I only shot one. A war hoop she did. I let her birds float to the edge and got the rod and topwater to get mine. As I reeled it in I seen a BAND! Then I got to war hoop and dance a little jig best I could. Seen more geese and a few ducks, lots and lots of geese but only ten ducks in two groups. One suzie dumped out of the second group and landed ten foot away. When it left I took it out. We had to leave early as BilletHead JR and his family would be at the house soon. When picking up more geese tried to land. Fun morning. Bird Watcher Chris this is the pond we drove to in the field where we seen all the geese. Here are some pictures. Neat place as there is a nice outhouse with in a short walk if needed. Got the band work done on the internet and it was not a local. INFORMATION FROM OUR FILES: Species: LARGE CANADA GOOSE Date banded: 06/23/2009 Banding Location: MILOMA, NOBLES COUNTY, MINNESOTA, USA Age: WAS TOO YOUNG TO FLY WHEN BANDED IN 2009 Sex: MALE Will be taking BilletHead JR on a hunt in the morning. I am looking forward to this as raising a family and living out of our area makes out time together precious. BilletHead

Will do Chris, that will give me an excuse to be out. BilletHead

Merry Christmas to you too Jeff and everyone else on here, Mr. and Mrs. Billethead

Dear Santa, Mr. and Mrs. BilletHead have been very good this year although I like Mrs. BilletHead to be a bit naughty at times For the first time in our 35+ years together we choose not to deer hunt as we were afraid we might accidentally hit one of your reindeer. But the freezer was still full of deer. We also ask for the deep freeze to drop south. I Really think the good folks north of would like a white Christmas with icicles hanging from there houses especally the ones of Norwegian decent that populated the great white north. My grandma was one of them and she liked snow. (she liked the grouse when they ate the fermented crab apples from the tree in her yard, They would fly into the side of the house when drunk. She would just go out and hit them with a stick!) Please grant our Christmas wishes, we will have seared duck done rare/medium rare on a plate with a glass of zinfandel waiting for you on the night you arrive. Merry CHRISTmas everyone, Mr and Mrs. Billethead

Wave after wave of enemy fighters heading your way. We did our best to cut the attackers numbers before they get to you guys. If you let your guard down you will be suprised. BilletHead

I count my blessings everyday Scott.

Same place as thursday but this time with my bride Mrs. BilletHead. So windy at times the little teal decoys tipped on there side and a couple of times the MOJO mallard wings stopped spining. But I think the wind was our friend. Again like yesterday massave flights of big ducks. At times they actually hovered going into the wind flying closer to the ground not like yesterday sky high. Pat was amazed at the size of the flocks as she had not wittnessed anything like this before. Early big flocks did not even give us a look but as the morning went on I think the birds were tiring of the wind. Soon they gave us looks, then then a flock or two would circle but no commitment. Then around 8:30 a group of fifty or more set and came in right in our faces. Four did not leave. Pat says oooooh I like that! A bit later five loners came in and three stayed with us. Decided about 9:30 we had all the fun we could for the morning. Again a couple of pictures of the set up and todays take of birds. Just got my fill of duck fajitas and a cold brew. How much better can it get? Billethead

Outstanding! The guns of Navarone, you should make a movie. Billethead

I have visions of WW2 in my head when you hunt the pill box. I just hope no rogue mean Mallard doesn't pitch a grenade in the back. BillwtHead

Yes Clayton where my blind is would be normally underwater. It should be up in the grass. Billethead

Well Jeff birds are on the way. I hunted a different pond this morning. Muffed a gimmie shot at a gadwall but managed the second one later. While laying there I wittnessed a mass of ducks heading south. At least 11 groups with the smallest flock I would guess 50. Largest flock I bet 500 birds and all were sky high heading south. Man it is so mild and will be for the next few days. I wonder what bug got up there butt to make them do this? BilletHead

I bet the hardest part is getting the covers on their big brown eyes.

Actually Duane there was two back to back groups of 40 to 50 birds each high and South bound heading you guys way this morning. Oh by the way we don't have rocks to hide in down here can you make a dirt blind? If you are going to make Phil a deer blind surely a dirt blind would be easy billetHead

The Mrs. and I have had a pretty good feathered body count so far this season but it has been one to four a hunt. Alot of work per bird but fun none the less. The last cold front brought more birds around. One pond we hunt had a bunch on it a couple days back. I struggle hunting this place as the birds seem to be hard to get close enough at times. Circle and leave or land too far out, not decoying well. Well today I went solo to try again. Strong southwest wind. I got to where the wind would move the decoys well. Also put out the MOJO mallard. I hardly ever use the darn thing but made up my mind to do it this morning. Kind of ran late and while grassing up the lay out heard wings and heard a splash or two. Still pretty dark and could not even find the birds on the pond. I hopped in and heard them leave. Soon a single came in and I shot it. A bit later a group of five and I dumped three. Then nothing for a long time. Then a ringneck rocketed in and landed. I watched it swim around up to my decoys. Then it started diving and feeding. Quiet again for another long spell. Long enough I got up and walked to the four wheeler and trailer, picked it up and started picking up the decoys. Thats when things started to happen again. More groups wanting to land so I threw out the picked up decoys. Hid the wheeler and got back into the blind. Soon there after five more came right in and I dumped the last two. A fun hunt when the birds worked like they are supposed to. When doing the final pick up more birds tried to land. Three gadwall drakes and three mallards. Yea I know two were hens buy hey it happened that way today. Just hasn't been enough birds to be picky but that might be a changing now. Some pictures from this morning, BilletHead

That is a neat hide Duane. Get a hat the color of the rocks and you will disappear.

Well done duane, Billethead