Last Hunts From Billetheadville

[BilletHead]

Had a friend down for our fourth annual fowlfest. He has time off between Christmas and New years. We hunt from two to three days. Here we go, he got here day after Christmas about two thirty in the afternoon. I said lets take a look see around the block. Our block I live on is two miles by one mile. As the crow flies less than a mile from the house we see ducks working a cornfield. Darn he says are we going after them? Sure I exclaim lets get the decoys. Run home get the layouts, two dozen full body ducks and three spinning wing decoys. I said we got mud to walk through. I can do that he says. When we get there the ducks were gone. We set up and soon we see great groups lift off the roost a mile and a half away. Some head our way, others split off and head elsewhere. soon we have clouds of ducks coming in in the great tornado. I heard him mumble from his blind I have never seen anything like this. (his first field hunt and I know that feeling from last year on my first) Down they came and the shooting started with ducks hitting the mud with a splat. Three groups later we had out limits of mallards,

Next morning we hit a field with bigfoot decoys looking for geese. We seen them, big flocks, big flights paying no attention to us as they headed to the great roost lake(actually a large farm pond) dumping in, we did see ducks in another field too. Not much luck but in the wind some snows flew pretty low and one went down after a pass shot so we had a snow that morning. We repeated another field hunt for ducks that evening with a tally of three greenheads and three wigeon in the corn.

Next morning a combo hunt for ducks and geese where we had seen ducks day before on a knoll. Transition between corn and bean field. Very soft field, mud again but a grass strip to run the atv up with a trailer behind to haul decoys. Mrs. BilletHead was going too. We had stuffed on the trailer three dozen bigfoot and two dozen full body ducks, three layouts, three spinning wing decoys and our carcasses loaded. I thought right there this might be trouble as we took off Pat and I on the ATV with Brad hanging on the back of the trailer. We made it to the set up as there was a bit of frost in the ground in the field but the grassway the narrow tires on the trailer sunk in bad. Set up and settled in. Soon birds flying by the bunches. I could not describe how many. Right over us with only a few cocking there heads for a look at us. Again no luck as they had been feeding all night as the funneled to the roost. Good morning show we had though and we picked up. Cannot compete wit our little set up with all those thousands of birds a couple miles away going down on the pond. On the way home I stopped and walked across the field to peek at the roost. I could not believe what I saw there. I had posted a photo in the all quiet thread and you would have to triple that picture or more to estimate the birds. Mallards covered the water and the pond dam. Canada geese were overflowing into the fescue field covering acres. What a sight but how to compete? I asked Brad what do you want to do this evening and he said geese. He did then say I like to hear them hit the ground. I then instantly thought of Birdwatcher when he said about geese "Its all about the thump baby". So we decided to do a bit of pass shooting that afternoon. We knew where all the geese were going in the evenings to a field off limits as in no permission. To get there the geese were only flying treetop high over pastures and a crp field from roost to a bean field. Figured 4PM would be about right to get there. That is when we arrived only to find hundreds of geese in the air. We loaded our guns and scrambled in to the deep grassed CRP field and hunkered down. Go figure I had the last flying flock go over me and I took out two for the hunt. Went home and cleaned the geese. Then we discussed the next mornings hunt. Decided to hunt water for geese, other flocks then we had been harassing a few miles from home. I knew of a place with more than enough to hunt. Another loafing, roost set of ponds. We could set up and let birds scatter out and wait for there return. This was night the temps were to drop which they did. Got up to 32 degrees with a stiff North wind. Loaded up to the spot and sat up with a couple dozen bigfoots and a half dozen goose floaters. Getting light out and they started flying off the roost over our heads. We did not shoot but looking back should of popped out of the layouts and took them out. Birds scattered and soon a nice flock came back and pitched in. I got three and Brad two. One of my birds still alive with head down snaking his way across the pond heading for the other side, one of Brads did too. We got up to pursue our birds. I got mine with a final shot but Brad's went into the timber and vanished. As the temperature dropped we seen flocks starting to get together in the distance and go down other places. I called time and temp at the bank, it had dropped to twenty degrees. Ice was starting to form on the floaters and along the sheltered pond bank. We picked up and called it a day. Then I got a phone call from the Mrs. She had went to town early and going out of the house she heard shots close to home, then driving out to the highway an open gate and a truck on the hill over the now giant bird roost. On Brads and my trip home truck was gone and I took a look see to find a half dozen ducks left. Cannot be mad I thought as it was good while it lasted. Besides I knew it would be found sooner than later. Landowner Father and Son. Son is a classmate of mine and a DU member with his other friends too are. I was hoping he would not find it, a bit stingy on my part. Should not be that way I know but it was like I said a god run. Our Geese from that morning,

We elected not to hunt his last Afternoon. Actually too tired to tell you the truth. Had a nice fish fry instead. Fun times with a friend. Hopefully next season will be the fifth fowlfest. He had a good time and got to take birds home to boot. I made a run yesterday looking for the scattered mallards. Found a few and here is hoping some stay to start up another pattern for me to figure out but the bulk are gone.

BilletHead

[mhowerton]

Great report. Awesome to put a friend under a ducknado.

[JohnP]

Sounds like a great trip and awsome hunts. Congrats.

[Feathers and Fins]

Love it, and widgies to boot. Now go get the geese I told you about

[ness]

Very nice report, BH. You've kinda got me interested in the whole field hunting thing. Less equipment, no special dog -- though my Britts might not mind snuggling up in a layout doing a retrieve or 2.

[BilletHead]

Thanks guys,

Ness you can do it. Just do your homework and find birds where they want to be. Britts in the layout. You bet I have been with Birdwatcher and seen his lab lay between his legs. Besides best part is they will keep you warmer. Do they pass gas? That would be the only drawback

[duckydoty]

Great report Marty. Seems like my buddy and I have our adventure at the same time every year as you do.

[Feathers and Fins]

Ness you will love it, field hunting is the only way I can hunt my pup anymore she is blind as a bat but nothing wrong with her nose or ears. I had a lot of people tell me she would never hunt again when she went blind last year. They cant believe she still hunts, it is great for taking the old dogs out not near as rough on them and still keeps them doing what they love.

Yes they do fart in layouts and yes your eyes water but in all honesty being with your best friend is worth it to me.

Do a little scouting and a little door knocking and give it a whirl, you will love it.

[BilletHead]

We do Duane and next year we should all do something crazy together.

billetHead

[Feathers and Fins]

Next year hell you want to do crazy I say we do a CO Hunt for Snows. You bring the Mule for packing them out lol.