Annual Louisiana Duck Hunt

[popplecop]

My son and I are leaving Sun. for our annual duck hunt in SW Louisiana. Talked to my buddy in Pecan Island last night, said they have plenty of birds, everything from teal to tree ducks, more mallards than in previous years. Even at my age I get excited about this hunt. Thought my 16 yr. old grandson wasn't going to make it this year due to basketball and his work at the hospital, but the good news is he's flying in. Daughter in law had a bunch of miles for flying so they're comeing down later in the week, great.

Am taking three shotguns this year, an Ithaca 12 ga Md. 37R from 1950, another Md. 37 from 1957 in 16 ga. and a Huglu SxS that was a special order gun. Most of the blinds aden't designed for use with SxSs or O/Us so that's the reason for the slide actions. The one SxS I'm taking in 28 ga was ordered with 30" barrels choked IC & Full, DTs and English grip. All ammo for all 3 will be bismuth, Kent Matrix or Classic Doubles Hevi shot and all are 2.75. The 12 is a full choke, the 16 is modified so I should not have any problem matching the gun to the type of shooting we'll be doing. About 90% is over decoys, which is the best, because of the skill of calling and decoy set up to lure the birds in to 30 yards. By the way, I am not a duck caller, turkeys yes, ducks no except woodies.

Will give you a report next year when we get nack. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and Holidays to all.

[fabsroman]

Hope you have a wonderful and safe trip. I hope I eventually have grandkids and that I get to hunt with them. Right now, I'll be happy if I can get either of my kids interested in hunting.

[wrenchman]

have some fun

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Good luck....have fun.....be safe!

Post some pics if you get a chance....we'd all love to see them.

[popplecop]

Had a great hunt which also included woodcock this year, that was a first. High light of the hunt was one day my son shot a drake cinnamon teal, my grandson a bw drake and I got a gw trake. All 3 of them are adult birds in full plumage, so grandpa said that he would get the three of them mounted on a log together. Will have pictures to post as soon as my son shows me how. Wonder what my taxidermy bill will be, but even in sw Louisiana Cinnamon teal are rare and for the three of us to get nice adult drakes in the 3 species of teal the same day is unique.

[fabsroman]

Had a great hunt which also included woodcock this year, that was a first. High light of the hunt was one day my son shot a drake cinnamon teal, my grandson a bw drake and I got a gw trake. All 3 of them are adult birds in full plumage, so grandpa said that he would get the three of them mounted on a log together. Will have pictures to post as soon as my son shows me how. Wonder what my taxidermy bill will be, but even in sw Louisiana Cinnamon teal are rare and for the three of us to get nice adult drakes in the 3 species of teal the same day is unique.

That is definitely awesome. The chances of each of you shooting a drake teal of a different species is pretty slim. Heck, it is tough enough just to hit a teal to begin with.

Taxidermy bill, $400+. Experience of a lifetime, priceless. I hope my dad gets to experience something like that and that I get to experience it at some point too.

[popplecop]

Sounds like my son found a taxidermist that is good with ducks to do it for $185 per bird. That sounds reasonable to me, $555 is less than I though I'd have to pay. Wonder if that price includes the log I want them mounted on.

[fabsroman]

Sounds like my son found a taxidermist that is good with ducks to do it for $185 per bird. That sounds reasonable to me, $555 is less than I though I'd have to pay. Wonder if that price includes the log I want them mounted on.

I initially wrote $500+ because it cost me $185 to get a mallard mounted, but I didn't want you to fall out of your chair if taxidermy prices were different where you live.

[popplecop]

Fabs, I'm just happy that it is under a grand. When I was still working used to audit taxidermists as they are licensed by both the state and feds. I know the work that goes into a good mount.

[grayghost]

Congrats on getting those 3 species in a single hunt! I used to mount many birds from Mexico and it was common to get all three down there. Here, in the southeast, very rare indeed.
grayghost