where did the ducks go???

[gadwall2]

Randy, you ought to take two waterfowling sabaticals next year. One back up to Canada for honkes and one to Iowa for fatheads.

You are right this season is kaput! We may get some, and I do mean some, decent shooting the last two weeks of the season, but the season as a whole has been a complete bust.

Everybody wanted to jump up and down, shouting, clapping and patting theirselves on the back because we had a decent hatch this year. A lot of people predicted a great year this year. Everyone wanted to believe that the hatch would put more birds in our bags this year. I didn't bite. I have been let down to many times duck hunting, in all circumstances. Call me negative, a pessimist, whatever you want, but I know you can call me completely frustrated now. I'll just have to stick it out and see what happens.(PUNT-I'm playing for field position now.) This has been the first year in a long time that my enthusiasm has waned. I was disgruntled and dedided to take a ride around a few hill holes I know to see if they were holding any birds. One hole I know had about 200 mallards and pintails on it last week. I pulled up and saw empty water saturday morning. Then low and behold a greenhead, suzie, and one big ole black drake jumped up about 30 yards from me. That brought back some life to me. I may go down hard this year, but I'll be gowing down swinging.

Voluntary Restraint- disabled
Coots, Mergansers, and Bootlips- I'm yer daddy!

I got my valve stem tool, 100 pounds of sugar, BDR-85 equipped with megaphone, a cage full of skunks and a slim jim, a red-headed nazi midget in spandex holding four strands of "chainsaw beads" (borrowed him from GH22), Goosebruce's rope and ficas tree, and Gulfcoast and Ole Bufflehead on retainer. So watch out, its done got serious.

[GulfCoast]

When you find them, call me. I will pay Meeka and Old Buff's retainers, and we can just both go to jail at the same time!

[NOHERE]

Have you noticed the papers, up in Alaska its 15 for the lows and 30's for the highs, that aint right, its been that way all year. Mizzori has had one of the best years on record, along with Illinois. It aint gonna get cold enough quick engough for this season to be salvaged...maybe, just maybe the youth weekend could be good.

THANK THE LORD FOR DEER HUNTING...THIS YEAR

[HOUNDOG]

i hunted sunday and seen plenty,missed 3 and watched the 3 blinds across from me make several trips to the truck,i was at the cutoff and they were in the right spot. i wasnt! but i seen the ducks they were shooting at.mostly mallards and pins.i dont know why everyone is still saying no ducks yet cuz im seeing plenty.i had a friend who hunted crowder sat and sun,they killed limits both days so i think folks are lying so noone will go hunting and they will have all the good spots to their self

[Meeka]

Yeah, but what about all that new water we got today. Several of my customary hangouts needed about 3-6".

Thinkin bout hunting new years day or this weekend. Good thing is I won't have to lug that coat around!

Won't hunt Friday because they closed the WMA's for the Ole Miss game!

[Anatidae]

Kevan.....the Canada gig is 'bout the only thing that's kept us both from going over the edge. That, and teal season saved us, this year. So YES.....we plan to go back every year, just for that early jump-start.

I can still relate to your frustration, though. I could care less about shooting woodies.......I want to work some 'fatheads'! I don't even care if somebody else kills'em.

I can't complain too much, though.......the only mallard I've killed since opening split was banded. Wierd luck this year.

Good Luck on your pintail/blackduck hole.

[Wingman]

I would tell you boys to go buy some goose shells and a Haydel or Chien Caille speck call and the fun would begin.....but I know that no self-respectin' mallard purist would be caught dead in a dry field waiting for barbellies.

Hehe...you just think mallards know how to fly....I watched 700-1000 specks come in to a hipped cornfield today at 2:30 and the jinks they were pulling are illegal without a parachute strapped on according to the FAA. Man, the limit is low, but it sure as heck beats sittin' on the couch waiting on mallards to cross the state line.

Wingman

[jebster]

Wingman, have you been honking at me? Well, I haven't heard you because:

A. I have been asleep in the blind. Hunting is very boring these days.
B. I can't hear you because of the geese making all that noise and/or dodging the high volume of goose crap particles falling from the sky!

I'm begining to develop intel which indicates that ducks and geese don't hang out in the same places. I'd bank on it !