So, How do you like duck hunting, Now?

[Chuckle12]

Except for 2006, this has been the best season I've had in the last 10 years.

[davidees]

Much, much better than last year, not as good as the year before...but good. I guess it'll never again be like '95-'98.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Killed a few single man limits, one of which was with my best buddy who will be doing good to see turkey season. So that is a plus. The last bird he picked up was a big mallard drake that I put one hell of a shot on and he put one hell of a retrieve on. To me a mallard drake is the only bird that matters. If I would of known it'd be his last one then it'd be at the taxidermist right now.

Out of 35-40 days of hunting (the majority of those days were scouting with a gun instead of hunting) I believe I have personally killed around 10 or so limits. Other than a few draw hunts I have really not had a need to head west to the delta, it has been a great year in east MS. Until now. Of those ten limits, 7 have been in the past week and a half up until this rain. Unfortunately we are not in east Arkansas, so when the rivers get out this much the birds are scattered. But, I bumped several hundred this afternoon out of a private land hole we have so the morning looks good, I hope. It just needs to happen before 9 AM.

All in all the season is precisely what I expected it to be: birds in the beginning, tons and tons of scouting to kill a few in between, and loaded up in January. Someone said it on a post on another thread and it is true: a good duck hunter knows when to go and when not to go. I have seen several folks get chewed up and spit by the mallard duck, as it always does, but the final stretch is where the rubber meets the road. Rarely do I hunt a hole "blind" anymore. If I don't physically see birds get up out of it, I do not waste my time and resources. If I find them, I hunt them.

I would say the season has been about average, but if were not for all this rain it was shaping up to be a final two weeks to jot down in the book of seasons not-to-forget.

Enjoy it while it lasts. Migrations and huntable duck numbers, speaking in terms of feasible (or legal) to do so, are soon to be a thing of the past.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Killed a few single man limits, one of which was with my best buddy who will be doing good to see turkey season. So that is a plus. The last bird he picked up was a big mallard drake that I put one hell of a shot on and he put one hell of a retrieve on. To me a mallard drake is the only bird that matters. If I would of known it'd be his last one then it'd be at the taxidermist right now.

Out of 35-40 days of hunting (the majority of those days were scouting with a gun instead of hunting) I believe I have personally killed around 10 or so limits. Other than a few draw hunts I have really not had a need to head west to the delta, it has been a great year in east MS. Until now. Of those ten limits, 7 have been in the past week and a half up until this rain. Unfortunately we are not in east Arkansas, so when the rivers get out this much the birds are scattered. But, I bumped several hundred this afternoon out of a private land hole we have so the morning looks good, I hope. It just needs to happen before 9 AM.

All in all the season is precisely what I expected it to be: birds in the beginning, tons and tons of scouting to kill a few in between, and loaded up in January. Someone said it on a post on another thread and it is true: a good duck hunter knows when to go and when not to go. I have seen several folks get chewed up and spit by the mallard duck, as it always does, but the final stretch is where the rubber meets the road. Rarely do I hunt a hole "blind" anymore. If I don't physically see birds get up out of it, I do not waste my time and resources. If I find them, I hunt them.

I would say the season has been about average, but if were not for all this rain it was shaping up to be a final two weeks to jot down in the book of seasons not-to-forget.

Enjoy it while it lasts. Migrations and huntable duck numbers, speaking in terms of feasible (or legal) to do so, are soon to be a thing of the past.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

I just wanted to reiterate with a double post.

[Double R 2]

I take it all in stride. Less mallards (slightly less to no change, but if the upcoming week as as good as the last will be more), less pintail (considerably), no geese, less shovelers, less driving, less expenditures, less drama, NO zero hunts, yellow pup has picked up 3x the number Delta did her first season, more kids, more family, more potluck belly-busting dinners, more between-hunt work time, more deer, more hogs, more hunts in the rain. I no longer have any expectations but to enjoy it for what it is, or isn't.

[novacaine]

I take it all in stride. Less mallards (slightly), less pintail (considerably), no geese, less shovelers, less driving, less expenditures, less drama, NO zero hunts, yellow pup has picked up 3x the number Delta did her first season, more kids, more family, more potluck belly-busting dinners, more between-hunt work time, more deer, more hogs, more hunts in the rain. I no longer have any expectations but to enjoy it for what it is, or isn't.

I like that statement Ramsey..................well said.

[quack_a_tack]

Pretty good, got a good friend and owner of the property I hunt in on his first limit hunt, first mallard limit hunt, his first 30+ duck hunt, and we have each killed a taxidermy duck. My first black, and his first widgeon. Miss my dog for sure. I would rate it 3rd or 4th since the late 90's. hoping the woods heat up with these last 2 weeks. Good luck to everyone, can't wait to see what the last 10 days have in store.

[onyoside]

Year as a whole very high in parts and very low in others. The first day I hunted my dog (7yrs old) picked up 15 birds for 3 of us, didnt limit but was the shooters fault cant blame it on the birds. On his last retrieve he was as excited and strong as his first, that night he didnt want to eat so I knew he must be tired. Knowing my other lab had eaten his food from the night before after church I got his bowl and called him to come. He never came, I walked around the ouse to find him laying in his spot and he was cold as a wedge. I have played it in my head a 1000 times and dont know what I would have done differently if given the opportunity but hes gone. I really havnt had a desire to go hunting this season but I've forced myself, I hate hunting without a dog! Either way i've had some realy good hunts, 3 of us limited and the last duck I shot was a banded Pintail. (high) Had another morning we wore the Grey ducs out, done by 7 with 3 limits. Stayed and watched the show after that and was amazing! (high) Havent really had a terrible hunt no goose eggs, but every hunt I think about my dog it lessens the hunt to some degree. I still say he went out doing what he loved to do and was born to do so I am lucky for the 7 years and memories but that dont mask the pain. If Heaven is what I hope it will be there will be a kill, retreive, and release program in place for duck hunting, and "Mace" will be waiting on me! Sorry I got long winded.

[ScottyLee]

i like duck hunting just as much as now as i did the first time i ever went.

now, i did get pretty mad at the ducks a couple weeks ago, but hunting is still the same. when i quit enjoying it, i'll quit going.

[davidees]

i like duck hunting just as much as now as i did the first time i ever went.

now, i did get pretty mad at the ducks a couple weeks ago, but hunting is still the same. when i quit enjoying it, i'll quit going.

That's exactly right. This year has been very enjoyable also because I got back into deer hunting. I've been duck hunting in the mornings and deer hunting in the afternoons and therefore have spent a lot more time afield. I've been hunting every off day and vacation day since October 1st and have really had a great time. My freezer is also full to the point I can barely get my doors closed.

[Plainsman04]

Killed a couple firsts. Haven't gotten blanked. Hunted a couple new areas. Hunted my dog more than in years past. Made a couple hunts out of almost nothing. Hunted real green timber for the first time. Blown a lot of money all to kill a duck. Been a good year. Not great by kill numbers, but great by experiences, so good overall. Should finish it out with a bang if all goes as planned the next 10 days.

[laduck]

Looks like I am going to make another season . Maybe I will stick around for another year . Time with friends . Hunting without my Honeybee

[hillhunter]

Since this is the first season I have hunted my dog, I would rate it a 10 right now. My group has consistently taken ducks pretty steady since Christmas. The most enjoyable as always is hanging out with friends at camp, and watching my dog work. I have identified some things that me and Jett will be doing this off season to make him a better partner, which are all shortcomings from me, not him. He has proven that he has what it takes to be a great duck dog and has a great sense of whats going on and how to get it done. We have lost two birds all year when he was with us, and with the type of terrain we hunt that is a great improvement. Between the doves, pheasants, and ducks this year, he has really come along as complete hunting dog.

As far as ducks go it has been the most consistent in quite a while. Not always complete limits, although we have had many more this year than in a while, but thats not what its about anyway.

[js]

I can say my season has been a learning season for me didn't hunt as much as I wanted only 18 hunts so far and prob only 1 or 2 more. This was the first time in 14 years I have hunted the entire time alone and the numbers have been very low but like most have said no goose eggs but no limits as well but I loved every minute I was out there.