Hunted Hard

[duckydoty]

Been hunting hard with my brother the last 3 days. We started at 4 Rivers Monday morning and drew pill 12. Took pool 6 with 3 other parties. It was windy and cold. There were quite a few birds flying but we just did not have any pocket water. We hunted all day and grilled brats for lunch out in the pool. Ended up getting 4 birds that day. That 4 total between all of us. We camped that night a Schell and drew in there the next morning. We got pill 8 for the last day of the middle zone. Went to F5 blind. 3/4 inch ice every where. Did not see many ducks and only had one work us. Decided to pack up around noon and headed home empty handed feeling whooped bad. This morning we decided to hunt Lower Taney. Did not see many birds but we took advantage of everyone we saw. Ended up with 3 mallards one gadwall and 2 canadas. We hunted hard in some cold weather. Enjoyed the time being out with my wife, brother, and his wife. Wish the ducks worked a little better for us.

[Feathers and Fins]

I thought you guys would have smoked them with the reports on the net of 100's of thousands of birds at four rivers.. But looks like Home is where the heart and birds are..

[duckydoty]

That is what we thought also. I guess you just have to be humbled every now and then to keep yourself in check

[BilletHead]

Got pretty cold up here Duane. I was wondering about you all. We had fifteen here Tuesday morning. Did you stay warm camping? Like you said good company makes it nice. Pat went with me this morning. We busted a bunch of birds off the pond. I was dissapointed as it became like the dead sea. Nothing flying. She said it was just nice to watch the sun rise with each other. That got to me a bit. Soon after that I was just about to call it good and a few geese started moving around. We got three and that was just a little icing on the morning together.

Marty

[Feathers and Fins]

This has been a humbling season for many people so dont feel bad. By the end of last season I had put down 348 ducks this year with but a couple weeks left im only at 91 and over the last 38 years excluding the season my gramps past away on which caused me to loose the heart this has been the worse for harvest numbers. But its been great in the aspect I have been able to spend the time with friends and the dogs. So I still call it a great season.

When its over im looking to try and get my first paddlefish ever this year plus beat up on some walleye in the upper white river. But first is the Conservation Order and loading up on some snows for Jerky and Summer Sausage... Who knows maybe this bust of a season will produce a season of a lifetime next year. I guess thats what is so cool about duck hunting when its over you are already dreaming of the next season.

[duckydoty]

Got pretty cold up here Duane. I was wondering about you all. We had fifteen here Tuesday morning. Did you stay warm camping? Like you said good company makes it nice. Pat went with me this morning. We busted a bunch of birds off the pond. I was dissapointed as it became like the dead sea. Nothing flying. She said it was just nice to watch the sun rise with each other. That got to me a bit. Soon after that I was just about to call it good and a few geese started moving around. We got three and that was just a little icing on the morning together.

Marty

We did stay warm while camping. Made it very hard to get out of the sleeping bags in the morning when the thermometer read 14 degrees.

[Bird Watcher]

Man, no kidding. I guess with as good as it's been for the last 4 or 5, a guy's got to expect an off year, but this year is tough. I went scouting for the weekend this morning. There's plenty of geese and a few ducks around, but you've got to put the miles on to find them and the warm weather sure doesn't help pattern them. At this point, I've given up hope on snow and am just hoping for some colder weather to consolidate all the little groups of birds into bigger ones, but I don't think it's going to happen. Oh well, just gotta play the cards you're dealt.

Nice hunt DuckyDoty, when it's all said and done all you really remember is the time spent with people, I've forgotten most of the birds I've taken home over the years, or this year for that matter, but I remember everything about the people and the time spent.

F&F, I can hook you up on the paddlefish until you are tired of catching them, if you want to go to Grand. Get ahold of me in March if you are interested.

Billet, I didn't get up your way this morning, but I saw a lot of birds 10-15 miles South of you, FWIW.

[duckydoty]

We get into the spoonys sometimes while chasing white bass on the James. Usually right around the 1st week of April. Too close to going back up to Alaska to really keep any of them. Cant get it all eaten by the time we have to head North.

[Feathers and Fins]

Sounds like a plan... Always wanted to try them i keep hearing how good they are to eat.