Home Forums Birds & Dogs Waterfowl Anybody duck hunt?

Cheesy you are killing me man.

I just got a new boat, blind, had good decks, and spinners - But lost a family member and parked everything now season is almost over if not shot.

I managed to catch the flu bug or a hell of a cold last week (I was going to hunt today, but as under the weather).

Next year !

Tag!

I'd like to. I have 40 mixed duck decoys, and 40 goose shells of bedded geese, I have never yet had the opportunity to use. Lost my hunting partner to an out of state job offer, and haven't found a replacement yet.

I got home from my last hunt of the season a couple hours ago. I got both of my sons and my new son in law to come along. Up at 4am,on the road by 5:30. 2 1\2 hour drive to get to our field. It was +5* with a 8-10 mph wind out of the NW. Had 2" fresh snow on top of the 3-4 already on the ground. We set out 150 big foot, 200 DD wind walkers and 150 sleeper shells and settled in and waited. Around 10:30 they started flying from the open water on the river. There wasn't as many as I had hoped for but we had birds in the air. I flagged and called in a small group of 10-12 lessers . When I got them in nice and close with their feet and flaps down I yelled Kill Em. I didn't even grab my gun. I just sat back and watched the boys mow down five of them. It was great laughing and high fiveing with them. I really wanted to get a flock of Greaters to come in. I love shooting those big honkers but the birds weren't cooperating. We spent the next three hours watching the sky, eating snacks and telling my son in law story's of past hunts. This was the first time he waterfowl hunted and he was hooked. I called in a few single and doubles but they were lessers and we decided to hold out for some of the big guys. Around 3:30 I spotted a small flock of the big one's and went to work. My oldest son and I started calling and flaging and got them to turn in. When I was sure they were the big ones I yelled Kill Em and we all opened fire. We dropped five of them. We still had a hour of light left and the boy's wanted to limit out and there were birds in the air so we went to work tring to get some to come in. I was just getting settled in when son #2 sees three birds heading our way. They were on us fast and the boy's opened up on them. To my horror I watched three birds drop out of the sky. The limit is 3 birds each. Then I heard son #1 say I shot a Blue! He ran out and grabbed it to show me. I breathed a sigh of relief and congratulated him.
It was getting close to sundown so I started the long walk to get the truck and trailer while the boys started gathering the deeks. After loading up we had some sandwiches and a few celebratory brews before heading home. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the season or to celebrate Christmas. All the way home we were planning a spring snow goose hunt in South Dakota.
I am blessed to have great sons and hunting partners.

sounds like a fun hunt! and yes, you are blessed, sir

Sounds like fun.. We only get a bit of jump shooting here.. I missed that this fall..

great way tp spend the day

Got out last weekend with dad. Shot a ring neck at first light then had some teal buzz us a few times but no dice. Headed for central Texas in a few days for Christmas at the in laws. Mornings will find me on a pond bank, or tank as they call them down there. Last years was quite a mixed bag in that place. Green wings, widgeon, mallards, wood ducks, and one the guys on duck hunting chat are still likely arguing about wat it was.

My first limit of ducks. Won’t say how many shells I used. That’s just a testament of my calling and layout abilities to get so many oppportunuties I think.

The new Beretta did well though.

Way to go!
Greenies are hard to hit. Unless you are a world class skeet shooter it is easy to go through a box of shell to get a limit of them.

The last four I got were doubles. Four birds with four shots. I won’t discuss the first two. 😂

Cheesy which model Beretta

A300 Outlander. I’ve had a 391 for years but got tired of dragging in mud.

Today’s lesson: don’t shoot Ringnecks.

Cheesy those are some great pics, congrats on your ducks.

I think duck hunters are pretty conscience of the wetlands, a little off topic but wondering if you are seeing muskrats returning to good numbers.?

I haven’t seen a muskrat in 20 years, was back when I was in high school. I truly don’t spent much time in the wetlands. Right now I’m just hunting some farm ponds in central Texas. Earlier in fall was farm pond in Kansas. Places I hunt in Missouri are ponds on a conservation area. So no true marshy areas.

I’d rather be following my bird dogs chasing pheasants anyway. 😂 but I’ll admit, this is kind of fun and my legs don’t feel ready to fall off after a weekend.

Thanks for the quick reply!

I was afraid you might say that, it's a damn shame that the 'rats seemingly have just about disappeared.


Okay, back on topic...

I have more muskrats than I want. They pretty much disappeared a decade or so back but are back with a vengeance. I shoot them on sight as they prefer to dig dens in the pond dam than the bank. I could use more mink, that's for sure.

Ringnecks are decent eating, certainly no any worse than any other diver. Unless you are talking of the smell of them- that is an issue only beat by the stench of coots.

I just understand now why ducks are plucked. No skinning here.