Duck Season 2024

[DADAKOTA]

Great work.  What a nice looking pond.  Spent the opener at Bob Brown.  Took an 11 year old on his first duck hunt.  I believe he is hooked.  Not only killed his first duck, but a limit as well.  He was shooting the gun I learned on as well as my Son learned on.  My Dad did a great job of picking out that little Ithace 3" 20 single.  On its 3rd generation now.

[ness]

On 11/2/2024 at 7:11 PM, BilletHead said:

    Anyone have any success today?

 The BilletHeads have a report.  Once again dry conditions. Our saving grace was the pond in the timber we like to open up the middle zone had some water. Our country did have a couple rain events in the spring that filled the pond. It's low now but enough to hunt. Bone dry last year.  We limited out. Not being picky really. Very few big ducks around due to unseasonably warm weather.  Today was a wood duck and green wing teal shoot both are good eats. This hunt lasted less than an hour of actual hunting time. I shot the first wood duck. Went out to retrieve knowing fully well there was a rusted broken off fence post in the middle.  Shin deep for me and to Pat's knees. For mud bottom it's easy walking. I do use a shovel handle walking in it. I should of shuffled but instead normal walk. I found the post and tore a hole top of my boot through the wader material. I'm thinking not even patchable. Lucky it didn't get my leg. Got back and emptied what I could right out of the hole I had made. Told Pat you are up to the plate now for water duty.  So as a good sport she did. Birds trickling in on and off. Nice teal wads and smaller Woodies. I hope these videos are seeable. Lots of laughs were had.    Another amazing deal all drake day for both species. Two wood ducks each and four green wings each. 

 

   Cleaned up really well clean bunch.

The transportation ready to head back to the truck.

 

As much as you two love animals, (and I don't mean eating them, I'm thinking Sadie), and as much as you love hunting waterfowl, I wish you could get a Lab or such. There's nothing better than a four-legged partner, IMO.

My dad, brother and I hunted ducks a fair amount, but without a dog.  My uncle George was an avid waterfowl hunter and we went hunting with him once. It was my first exposure to a wonderful hunting dog. He had a female black Lab named Sam. The blind had a small door and Sam would sit rock solid there through the shot, but when my uncle gave the signal she was out the door like a rocket. If she didn't see the duck he could steer her through whistle commands. It was really something to see! 

I can just see you and Pat with a loving, well-trained dog making your hunts a bigger joy, and extending your years hunting. And being a wonderful companion the 99% of the year you're not hunting.

[BilletHead]

20 minutes ago, ness said:

As much as you two love animals, (and I don't mean eating them, I'm thinking Sadie), and as much as you love hunting waterfowl, I wish you could get a Lab or such. There's nothing better than a four-legged partner, IMO.

My dad, brother and I hunted ducks a fair amount, but without a dog.  My uncle George was an avid waterfowl hunter and we went hunting with him once. It was my first exposure to a wonderful hunting dog. He had a female black Lab named Sam. The blind had a small door and Sam would sit rock solid there through the shot, but when my uncle gave the signal she was out the door like a rocket. If she didn't see the duck he could steer her through whistle commands. It was really something to see! 

I can just see you and Pat with a loving, well-trained dog making your hunts a bigger joy, and extending your years hunting. And being a wonderful companion the 99% of the year you're not hunting.

                    Believe me John we have thought about it a bunch. It is not out of the picture totally. If we did it would be a smaller Lab like the English version. House companion for sure. Just not quite ready. In the meantime we can come up and visit your two balls o fire when we need a fix. 

[ness]

13 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

                    Believe me John we have thought about it a bunch. It is not out of the picture totally. If we did it would be a smaller Lab like the English version. House companion for sure. Just not quite ready. In the meantime we can come up and visit your two balls o fire when we need a fix. 

You know you’re welcome anytime! 

Rusty is a wild man and hard to control at a year and a half, but I feel like he’s got real potential. I’ve never had a more eager and quick learner than him though. Just need to put in the time, which isn’t easy. Ruby’s steady and has always done good. She’s 11; I hope we get a few more years out of her. KS opens this weekend but we’re tied up with another wedding.  I’ll probably wait for things to calm down a bit and get Rusty out by himself. 

[Gavin]

We had a great time this weekend. Mostly teal and wood ducks, but Mallards are starting to trickle in. St Charles County,. Reports from the North (BK Leach area) were not good.

[Terrierman]

2 hours ago, ness said:

As much as you two love animals, (and I don't mean eating them, I'm thinking Sadie), and as much as you love hunting waterfowl, I wish you could get a Lab or such. There's nothing better than a four-legged partner, IMO.

My dad, brother and I hunted ducks a fair amount, but without a dog.  My uncle George was an avid waterfowl hunter and we went hunting with him once. It was my first exposure to a wonderful hunting dog. He had a female black Lab named Sam. The blind had a small door and Sam would sit rock solid there through the shot, but when my uncle gave the signal she was out the door like a rocket. If she didn't see the duck he could steer her through whistle commands. It was really something to see! 

I can just see you and Pat with a loving, well-trained dog making your hunts a bigger joy, and extending your years hunting. And being a wonderful companion the 99% of the year you're not hunting.

Amen.  Preach it brother.

[Terrierman]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

                    Believe me John we have thought about it a bunch. It is not out of the picture totally. If we did it would be a smaller Lab like the English version. House companion for sure. Just not quite ready. In the meantime we can come up and visit your two balls o fire when we need a fix. 

You're thinking the right way.  I had an English Lab that was about 70 pounds.  Quite a dog, he spent a fair amount of time with me at Schell (and a lot of other places) before there was such a thing as 4 Rivers.  Trained him off the dock at Izaak Walton. I'll never forget Dexter.  Words of caution:  When you take on a dog it's 24/7/365.  

 

[BilletHead]

6 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

 When you take on a dog it's 24/7/365.  

 

             Oh, buddy I know. They flat become part of your family.  Sadie went with us everywhere until her health would not let her. Even then we found someone to stay with her here at the house. Oh, how we miss her. We had her 17 years. 

[ness]

54 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

You're thinking the right way.  I had an English Lab that was about 70 pounds.  Quite a dog, he spent a fair amount of time with me at Schell (and a lot of other places) before there was such a thing as 4 Rivers.  Trained him off the dock at Izaak Walton. I'll never forget Dexter.  Words of caution:  When you take on a dog it's 24/7/365.  

 

You’ve shared that picture and story before. What a good boy!

[Gavin]

A good dog is, well you know. I’m glad you have great memories with that one. Buddies dog did great this weekend.