Season Opener.

[jdmidwest]

Middle zone started out with a bang. My hunting buddy pulled a pill 10 quickdraw to Otter Slough on opening morning. After 2 hours wading thru bodies and waiting for about 60 parties of 4 to pull every man draw pills, we picked our unit and jumped out of the truck to the first volleys of the season coming from private land. Ducks were everywhere and water was at a minimum on the whole area. We drew one that had some good water and had birds all morning. We took our time and enjoyed piddling around in our assigned area watching birds work. I nailed my first Pintail Drake of my career, but it was a youngin without a sprig. Still a beautiful bird.

I have a new Bobcat Pirogue this year and it works great. Paddles like a dream and is super stable. My shooting improved 200 percent over shooting out of my kayak that rocked with every movement.

I found out I had a professional photographer along about 9 o'clock when I heard him curse that he almost dropped a $1000 lens in the water getting it out to shoot photos. He normally only brings out the good stuff when we have a nice dry blind. He took some great shots.

I have a feeling that this may be the best day of the season, it could only go down hill from here, it was that kind of day.

[BilletHead]

Good job and report JD. I have a long a while to wait until my South opener,

BilletHead

[jdmidwest]

Hopefully you will have more water and better crops. It has been a long dry spell around here and most of the local stuff is dry unless pumped from a well.

We were looking over the list they provide describing the fields and habitat for the area on our long wait to get out and hunt. We notice several units with "2 Year Old Corn" as a crop. The one we selected first had freshly combined beans, the day before. The wetland part of that unit was a mudhole somewhere on it. Lucky for us, the resource guy told us that little tidbit, we chose another unit.

Duck Creek was no better with only 18 units open on the first day, lack of water and warm October has prevented them from flooding timber units.

Birds have been moving for the past few weeks, but I think most have buzzed past all of the dry parts looking for better water on south.

[JohnP]

Great pics, and congrats on the Pinny. Looking forward to the southzone opening but need to try to fill the freezer with venison before then as I failed to do it last year and still hearing about it from the misses .

[ness]

Nice write up, JD. That's a pretty cool setup you've got there. I had to look up Otter Slough -- I know next to nothing about the SE part of MO.

[jdmidwest]

It was a great day and not much stress as we were the only 2 hunting and enjoying the day. He had more fun with the camera. Both of us enjoyed watching the birds fly. They were only holding a tenth of what they normally have this time of year, but water was limited also, so they were dropping in all morning in our spot. We were surrounded by 2 dry fields, so there was not anyone butted up against us flaring birds off.

The new boat is comfy and roomy. I really like it. It paddles like a kayak but as stable as a pontoon boat. The board goes across the top of the cockpit and I can sit on it and paddle also with a taller view. I could even stand up in it.

[Terrierman]

Seriously have none of you guys ever heard of a Kara? Layout hunting has been the nuts for a looong time. Nice boat and good hunt. Don't want to rain on any parades.

[ness]

It was a great day and not much stress as we were the only 2 hunting and enjoying the day. He had more fun with the camera. Both of us enjoyed watching the birds fly. They were only holding a tenth of what they normally have this time of year, but water was limited also, so they were dropping in all morning in our spot. We were surrounded by 2 dry fields, so there was not anyone butted up against us flaring birds off.

The new boat is comfy and roomy. I really like it. It paddles like a kayak but as stable as a pontoon boat. The board goes across the top of the cockpit and I can sit on it and paddle also with a taller view. I could even stand up in it.

I thought you might have more good pics up your sleeve. Glad you shared them. I'm getting the itch.

[Feathers and Fins]

I am an old scull boater, layouts are for this new generation lol. I still get a kick out of sneaking up on a giant raft and they never know your there till its to late. Im going to get a new one built for me next year in the fashion of the Great Salt Marsh boats.

[jdmidwest]

I thought you might have more good pics up your sleeve. Glad you shared them. I'm getting the itch.

I thought you would have scratched it by now. When does KS season open?

MO is kinda goofy, I prefer IL split season and was pulling for it here last time they were looking for some excuse to change things up. We get a good push of ducks in Oct, usually the third to fourth week. Then it gets stale until mid Dec. Things pick up and season ends. Mallards usually come in force in January. And we just watch them in the middle zone. Maybe shoot a few snows during that time.