How has this season been

[MALLARDBUSTER]

LOTS OF GREYS AND WOODIES,BUT NO GREEN

[torch]

Well I have heard about every joke there is. been really slow in the blind. It still beats working. I have several high dollar clubs around me that ain't killing. Fighting Bayou had 0's the other morning, first time in several years. The ducks ain't here. This has been the worst season in the last 25 years.

[feedcall]

It's been good for my group. Limits on almost every hunt. Not as many Mallards as last year, but hopefully they will show in Jan.

[h2o_dog]

Fighting Bayou had 0's the other morning, first time in several years...

We hunt probably within 10 miles of Fighting Bayou (as the crow flies), and I'd say we're having an above average* year, but nothing to really write home about.
*above average for us still includes some occasional 0's

[pelahatchie dawg]

Of course we screwed our hole up by trying to improve it with an ag crop during the worst drought in recent years. You live and you learn.

[dukbum]

havent got skunked yet

[Double R 2]

0'd twice - once in AR, once in MS (Forrest missed two on water that time)

No bands - haven't even been in the blind with one

[champcaller]

much worse than last year.

[Tedl10]

Pretty terrible.. 0'ed once.. No mallards when i was hunting..

[Super Black Eagle]

The hunting has been POOR, and my shooting has been above average.

I have only gotten a couple of chances to get out.
There have been plenty of birds in the area, but the land has been heavily pressured. Though I have been a guest on most hunts (the kind that doesn’t fuss about other peoples calling or decoy placement) I have learned I am not as good of a duck hunter as I once thought. Must be out of practice.

My little Boykin finally got to go on some true hunts (pits, calls, kills, marks, retrieves, etc.)
She got to chase her first cripple last weekend!! That was probably one of the best days of my life!! The water was about 8 inches deep where the bird fell (50-60 yards out). I sent her, and the race was on! When she finally tackled it, she breasted it up and came prancing back with her chest bowed out. Yep, I was proud!

So maybe the season has been pretty good. Just not many dead ducks.

[gator]

how do you judge success when duckin? the kills? the scenery? the fellowship? man, i don't know really, i suppose it's a bit of all 3 for me.

i've struggled w/ this question for years as i'm about as far away from a "sunriser" or "it's all about being there" type fella as they come......

but, to a man, it's been a great year.......one of my fondest on record. really, all told, my numbers are gonna be down a bit, but my memories will be at an all time high.......how could they not be?

heck, it started in sept w/ a drunk and a good ole msducks teal hunt w/ some good friends at willow break........watched 2 good dogs (mine and ramsey's dog delta) pick up 15 birds or so that morning. think delta got most of em considering ramsey was sending her WHILE WE WERE SHOOTING, hehehehehehe....yeah yeah, it's habit, i "know"

later that fall, i spent the better part of 2 weeks chasing ducks and pheasants on the montana prairie w/ another good friend, then hit the mallards HARD in missery on the way home...one morning saw us killing 2 bands.

i've spent time in the pit at my lease in arkie w/ young pups and old dogs, old friends and new.........i've watched my dog (gauge) mark a snow that winged off at what i've got to say was about 500 yds, over numerous rice levee's and 2 huge ditches.................never taking a cast and thump that sucker like he stole something from him. watched him be just as amazed as i was at the mallards and grey ducks dumping out of a fog so thick it stuck to you........hit an underwater log so hard chasing a cripple i thought it broke his neck..................and, have yet to see him loose a bird this season.

saw my young dog trapper get a taste of his life to come one afternoon just sitting in teh dog box and watching birds pile in. watched him kinda "get it" and start looking up. heard him whining the next morning when the season opened back up, cause he wasn't getting to go but rather unca gauge was.

i got to tell my friend doubleR, "just trust me, i got some pegged down" and hear him say, "yeah, everytime someone has said that this year, it's sucked." ---------------------- and, IMHO, i delivered, w/ 8 ducks in the "ole standby hole".

later that week, i sat in a torrentual downpour being called "yugo" by that same fella, due to my auto unceremoniously becoming a single and got to hear 10 of his duckin buds at their camp join in the WHOLE REST OF THE TIME I WAS THERE.........and, still, we managed to kill our share.

and, ya know what, good thing is, it ain't over.

nope, next week i hope to "count coup" on eiders, scoters, oldsquaw and brant, while laying out somewhere in teh cape cod....................................and eat lobster and chowwwwda for pennies, while drinking a cold barley hopped ale.

then, finish the year out in the timber on more mallards............

tell ya what, after writing all that, i can say that this year ain't been the best for "numbers" by a long shot.............but, man, the Good Lord has certainly blessed me.

good hunting, gator

[GREENHEADMAN]

pretty good year managed to kill a seven year old banded mallard and my first canvasback so not a bad year.

[hemingway35]

good read gator...I knew someone would "wax poetically" about this topic...I kinda had my money on you, po monkey or Anat and you came through.

[bigwater]

great read gator..

only one problem..

ale should be consumed at a temp of 45-50 deg... good ale will not be cold....

as per mr bostons

[the doctor]

havent got skunked yet

snipe dont count

the doc