How's your season going so far.

M.T. Pockets · #1 10-09-2005, 06:53 PM

We're a week into the season and I've gotten out a few times. Overall it's been pretty good. One of the best things I've done in the last couple years is to get a small one person kayak. This lets me hunt the meanest mud bottomed sloughs that others won't wade. I tie a bag of decoys behind me and paddle to the far end of those bottomless mud puddles. I didn't realize til the last couple years how much it helps to add some goose decoys to your duck spread. Now I bring a bag with 9 goose decoys and 15 mallards.

Yesterday I could have taken about 4 or 5 geese (limit's one) and many teal. I took one goose, a pintail & widgeon. Could have shot some mallards that came in but they weren't colored enough for me to make out drakes, I bet a buddy a case of long necks I could go a season without shooting a hen, so far he's buying. Out limit is 4 ducks and I was holding out for greenheads, guess I'll have to wait til the big ones show up in a couple weeks.

Super X-2 is working great, I shoot it better than any shotgun I've tried over the years. I was always a pump gunner but I'm finally sold on autoloaders. Some might think I'm nuts, but I shoot Winchester Xpert steel ammo, the cheap stuff that sells for $69 a case. I shoot 3" #3 shot at everything and am very satisfied. I grew up in the lead days and know the difference, but I'm very happy with the performance I've gotten. I usually hunt alone over decoys so I have the luxery of picking my shots, but I have taken at least 3 geese at around 50-60 yards with this load. I've hunted big game in Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho but I enjoy a good duck hunt a few miles from home as much as anything. Got the goose on the grill right now, Hope everyone has a good, safe waterfowl season.

Tater · #2 10-09-2005, 06:57 PM

I haven't gotten out yet cuz deer is still open but I'm anticipating a good season.

rubicon · #3 10-09-2005, 07:31 PM

Just waiting for season to open ( sea duck is in ) Found a new place to hunt. I was told the puddlers stack up in the back of a creek where I sika deer hunt. But the problem is all the land surrounding it is posted except for a big swamp. Actually the swamp is posted too but the owner of the swamp has an argo with tracks on it and is going to take me, the dog, and the boys back.
I cant wait.

TreeDoc · #4 10-09-2005, 07:40 PM

I'm just now taking a quick break from stocking up my travel trailer which in the next couple days I will pull up to the club about 6 hours north of me. I'll return to the club a few days after that with my flatbed loaded with with dekes and one of my ATV's to get set up before they flood my rice ponds. A lot of expensive driving to get set but I can't figure any other way to have it all completed and ready before our opener on the 22nd.

kt · #5 10-09-2005, 10:04 PM

a few years back my group of friends all bought up some xperts, geese flaring back at 10 yds would take 3 rounds and continue on. but they have the new and improved high velocity xperts out, perhaps they are indeed a better shell. as for the auto, join the club, i think the only people not sold on autos are those who havent hunted with them! that oughtta fire some one up. i just dont know how you cant like it more. when 4 geese come in and buy the time so and so shoots and pumps i have killed the other 3. its a conversation we have had a million times, one i still like to have. as for my season, opened saturday, some one named tammy decided to dump 8 inches of rain that day, i slept in, tomorrow bright and early look out woodies!
kt

fabsroman · #6 10-10-2005, 12:23 AM

Rubicon,

You haven't been looking at the DNR website close enough. Duck season opened up this past Saturday, and I was thinking about going out, but the rain convinced me to stay in. I'll probably be heading out on Wednesday or Thursday. I'll hunt ducks in the morning, crows afterward, and doves in the afternoon. It should be a good day.

M.T. Pockets · #7 10-10-2005, 08:23 AM

Wrapped the goose breast in tin-foil with a little bacon and grilled low for 3 hours - excellent.

I used a ginger/teriyaki marinade on the ducks and grilled the boned out breast like a small steak - also very good.

rubicon · #8 10-10-2005, 05:04 PM

Hey Fabs, Man I blew it. Sat around most of the day sat wanting something to do and finally made a run to bass pro and bought a couple dozen more dekes. And to add insult to injury I have seasons marked on calendar. Looks like I might have to sneak off work this week.

fabsroman · #9 10-10-2005, 07:17 PM

My brother went to Outdoor World on Sunday afternoon for his first time and at dinner Sunday night, he asked me if I knew it was there and if I had ever been. My wife started laughing at that question and said that I have been there so many times already that my car can drive itself there. Funny thing is, she and I weren't dating when it first opened up and I bought $1,600 worth of rods and reels along with a ton of hunting equipment from Outdoor World.

Don't feel bad about missing the first day. The only reason I knew it was the first day is because I marked the entire season on my calendar just a couple of weeks ago. If I knew where the ducks are, I would have been out there in the rain, but I haven't really been seeing the birds moving. I saw a pair of geese fly by the house today, but nothing like the big groups I saw last year around this time. I think the weather is still a little too warm. However, it looks like the deer are starting to move around a little.

kt · #10 10-10-2005, 09:13 PM

today,
so i finally got out, me and two friends, well a few years back i had found this little side puddle off of the main lake and i have been cleaning up the woodies ever since, well today every one wants to hunt with me,its just too small though, so we split up, took one buddy with me. we set up by 5 of shooting time and 3 minutes in a woody jumped from a brushy pile beside me at 10 yds bang down he came. picked him up and saw one screaking right at me, when i stood he flared, bang, all done. got screwed waiting around for other people to quit slackin
kt

skeet · #11 10-10-2005, 09:54 PM

Hey man...if it don't quack the limit is 10...or more..Quackers is 5...at least in Md

The geese here on the Eastern Shore have just quit moving...and no new birds. That will change in the next few days to a week. Woodies are moving here and that is about it

fabsroman · #12 10-11-2005, 12:17 AM

Skeet,

You aren't saying that woodies are 10 a day are you? I thought the regs say 2 woodies, 1 black, 1 can, 1 pintail, 2 mallard hens, 4 mallards total, yada, yada, yada. AS you can see, I don't shoot any of the yada birds.

TreeDoc · #13 10-11-2005, 12:24 AM

what Fabs......no yada yada Spoonies?

fabsroman · #14 10-11-2005, 10:47 AM

TreeDoc,

I haven't shot a Spoonie yet. Most of the ducks I have killed have been mallards, teal, and wood ducks with a couple divers thrown in there and about 2 black ducks.

TreeDoc · #15 10-11-2005, 11:56 AM

So I guess you'll be mounting your first as opposed to embibing in it's gourmet quality meat?

Mmmmmmmm........S P O O O O N Y !