Best Memory of this Season?

[Judd Irland]

If we're gonna have a worst, we might as well have a best. I'll start, although mine qualifies for both categories. My brother and I were hunting public land got in to the 'good' hole around 4:30a.m. We had to in order to get it. Standard predawn flashing lights at folks. One bunch set up a li'l closer than I would have liked, but they were courteous so we were too. They didnt try to call our birds nor did we, theirs. We both were doing well. About 7:00, 5 people, notice I didnt say hunters, walked into the downwind end of our hole, about 80 yards away, and began blasting 15 shots at every bird that came within 75 yds. I waded down to them, and asked if they would mind letting a few pass. I was told I didnt own the place and they would do as they d___ well pleased. I noticed they had no decoys, and asked if they would join us for some up close action. They said no a little less vehemently this time. I offered to give them a dozen dekes and pointed out another good hole. Again No. I gave up and went back. They continued blasting the next 3 or 4 bunches. They were really ruining our day and the folks beside us, but about 8:30 they walked back toward the launch and one even waved. While I had been talking to those guys, my brother had been talking to our neighbors and invited them to join us. They accepted and came over. These were 2 fathers (gunless) and their 3 boys aged 10-12. At this point the birds were steady inbound and my brother and I soon found our guns propped against nearby trees as we played 'guide' to this great group of kids. We had great conversation with their dads between flights, and laughed as they young men argued over who shot which bird. Listening to the lads made me realize what life in a duck blind was like for my father when I and my brothers were that age. It was wonderful to see their faces when the five widgeon decoyed and none left. I dunno who was proudest--the boys or the fathers. After the hunt that day, I was just thankful to be able to be a part of their day and I called my Dad to thank him for giving me the spirit that put me there in the first place.

Y'all's turn...

[nomsduckhunter]

Well my buddy and I have hunted a long time together on public land. So when we got there early and didn't have to flash lights at anyone, that was a good start. Then we actually had mallards work to the call and dekes. That shouldn't be strange but after this year this was great. We each killed mallards out of that bunch. Not that was the highlight of our season this year.

[gator]

two of my hunting buddies and myself were hunting together on public land and had two g-heads come in...well, myself and another of us were relieving ourselves when naturally they came in...they lined themselves up perfect and both fell w/ one shot from my buddies' gun...i have never seen this before w/ just two birds so it was pretty cool...

[Judd Irland]

Just seeing mallards in the dekes woulda been great. I somehow managed to not kill a single mallard this year. Killed everything else. Even broke my pintail draught, but no mallards. Ah, well here's to many more years full of good memories.

[neiljjr]

Judd I....Great story my friend. I commend you for your patience and portraying the true spirit of what hunting is all about. You obviously were brought up the right way, by caring parents. And you passed the torch when you had a chance, and may have had a major impact on the youngsters that morning that will mold their future outlook on how to deal with others, in life, and in the field. nj

[Anatidae]

Official sundown.....January 30th, 2002.

[RedEyed Duck]

Mine is kind of a BEST / WORST day all in one. We were hunting public land and went in about 4:15 and had to shine the light at people until shooting time. However, the funniest part of the day was when my rather large self fell out of my 12 ft. boat (that I bought from Jeff) and got totally soaked. The high that day was about 40 so with a few pieces of borrowed clothing I was able to tough if out. Good thing, we killed 11 ducks that day which was the biggest single day tally of the season. Didn't see many but they all seemed to work...

[swampland]

Actually, my best day was when I was in my deer stand, overlooking the swamp. NO, I did not even get a shot at "OLE DROPTINE", but I did watch a lot of birds swiming around. I'am not sure what kind, but most of them had greenheads. [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Johnboy114]

Pouring down rain, temp about 44. No decoys. 5 birds by 8 oclock. had two mallards that almost hit me while i was standing, i turned and shot missed 3 times, they were so close! I almost had time to reload and get a 4th shot off! but had i killed those two i would not have been able to kill my first pintail. Left after killing him. Let ducks land on me, and not shoot.Just wish someone had been there to enjoy the hunt with me. What a rush when that big greenhead finally commits, with its butt and feet down, wings kicked back all you can hear is the wind through its wing! just gotta love it.

[Bluegrass]

My best day came the 2nd weekend of the hunting season. I took a buddy of mine who use to play football at Ole Miss. He has never been duck hunting so,I told him to get his stamps and I would take him. I thought we would need the boat that day but when we got to the whole, the water was just waist deep, the motor wasn't working either but I took the boat abyway,and the boat had to be pulled. I volunteered to pull the boat to where we were going to set up. Now this guy weighs about 220, and the other guy with us did not want to get out of the boat. We had decoys,guns,waders,etc, so it was a heavy load. Needless to say, we had a good hunt...took a few mallards, and woodies. My friend killed his first greenhead that morning , so it was worth it......I love to see someone's face light up when they kill their 1st greenhead, especially kids!

[Unkljohn]

My best memory would have to be the look on my wife's face when she smoked her first greenhead!!! [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
JT

[judge jb]

i think it was sundown on the last day of season when i went to put the coleman lantern away for another season and found a bottle of scotch in the lantern case... what a way to end a season... guns unloaded, leggs kicked up and time to relax...


judge jb

[MemphisStockBroker]

You have to use your imagination on this one... 8am and the hot chocolate has made its way through my 13 year old son. We are standing in knee deep water, 200 yards into our favorite flooded greentree area. He has to stand up on a fallen tree so that when the waders come down, they don't fill up with water.

He is doing a balancing act on this tree, white butt facing towards me (he is modest) shotgun proped up on the tree fairly close to him (but safely unloaded) - whizzing away. I guess the ducks liked his 'call', because about 25 of them hit our hole right in the middle of his business.

The 'stream' won't stop. He is trying to pull his waders up - facing away from me as not to embarass his dad, keeping his balance on this tree that is starting to rock-and-roll, grabbing his shotgun trying to load it and begging me to let him take the first shot.

Results. ducks left the hole from me laughing so hard. no shots fired.

[Redneck]

Finally killing a duck on the last Saturday of the season! Even though I couldn't find it, I know I killed it. I think I did. Maybe I didn't.