listening to benny and msduckmen argue about spinners with everyone!!!!
any way,
too many to type. but today we ended out limits with two terrible shots, the sent the dogs and they made two incredible retrieves! they were probably out for over 5 mins each!
Most memorable moments this year....
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jdbuckshot
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- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2003 12:37 pm
- Location: Forest Mississippi
memoriable moments
"The rich ..... who are content to buy what they have not the desire to get by their own exertions, These are the real enemies of Game."
Calling in a flock of passing pintails for my little brother and my good buddy Duckmon so they could kill their first pintail drakes of their hunting careers..... It was a beautiful sunny morning in the hatchie at about 10:00. The sun was gleaming off of the belly of those pintails and it was just beautiful the way they "figure eighted" the decoys and then committed right in our faces......gman - hatchie hunter
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duckamateur
- Veteran
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- Location: Yazoo MS
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mississippi_duc_htr
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- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2001 1:01 am
- Location: On the wrong damn side of the state for sure for duck hunting!!!!, HATLEY,MS
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Ducks be us
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- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 5:03 pm
- Location: Horn Lake,Mississippi
'Highlight of the YEAR!!.........(unfortunately, at the expense of 2 fellow hunters)
'Gamehog', Anne and I were set-up against a small island one morning, waiting for the honkers to fly through. Two flocks showed interest, but despite 2 dozen of the best honker floaters money can buy, a Higdon 'Flapper' and 3-man team calling, they opted for their pre-agreed destination (somewhere else). We DID manage to coax a single into the edge of the spread but he stayed just out of gun range.
About 8:30, we heard a boat motor and sighted the small craft containing 2 hunters and dog, angling toward another island 200yds to our East. They appeared to be looking for a place to 'set-up'. After a few minutes, they started motoring slowly toward us.
Anne remarked, "Surely they're not coming over here".
Well, this was the most interest anything had shown our spread in the past 2 hours. So (given my tendancy to mess with other hunters), I played along and instinctively reached for the string and gave 3 swift tugs on the 'Flapper' decoy........'Gamehog' snickered. This was our first hunt together so I related the story of relocating a fellow hunter's reflectors prior to opening day last year........and how he got lost in the fog in a stump field, trying to find his 'spot' in the dark. I thought that might give him some insight into my madness. 'Gamehog' being a 22-year Marine veteran understood my wharped sense of duty to take corrective action against the hunters that can't find their way in the dark.
On they came......but angling slightly toward a spot behind us. Three more tugs on the 'Flapper'. (We had bolted the 'Flapper' on top of a submerged stump......and it seemed to be doing it's job).
Then 'Gamehog' said, "give'em a couple o' nervous clucks." It was all I could do to stifle my laughter....but managed to produce a call that I never practice........nervous 'clucks'.
'Bout then, Anne could start to make-out some of the comments coming from the approaching craft. You could hear the excitement building in their voices. "O.K.......we'll circle around behind the island, I'll let you out, and I'll take the boat around and run'em up toward you." (More snickers, 'Flapper' string, and nervous clucks) "Man....look at'em......they're alll over the place!!" (More snickers, tugging on the 'Flapper' string,.......and nervous clucks).
They were now within 75 yds and approaching the opposite side of the island we were against. I began to feel a little compassion for the guys and asked Anne and 'Gamehog' if we should let'em know before they embarrass themselves too badly. 'Gamehog' said, "Naw, I'd let'em at least get out of the boat." (More snickers, 'Flapper' string and nervous clucks
).
It occured to us that we needed to plan how to announce our presence. We thought of a 3-gun salute (straight-up in the air), but we really didn't know what we were dealing with here. 'Gamehog' said we ought to let'em shoot a decoy"........( I really like the way this guy thinks). (More nervous 'clucks'). But we were between the stalker and the decoys and were a little concerned about our safety. I mean.....somebody sneaking up on my decoy spread with a loaded gun isn't something to take lightly. But we coulda gotten out of the boat and waded down the bank out of the line of fire, but didn't want to chance being detected. So we agreed that Anne would deliver the final blow.....in a female voice.
There's a long delay. I was standing-up in the boat (which remember, is between our stalkers and our decoys)......and I'm looking through binoculars to monitor the two guys behind us. There's some bumping around with them getting hung on stumps and submerged logs, impeding their amphibious assult on our island. Then I spot one fella in waders, making his way to land after giving his partner a good shove-off.
It seemed like 10 minutes, but after giving his buddy enough time to negotiate his way back through the stumps to open water, I finally saw the fella come-up on land. He kinda gathered himself, turned and gave his buddy the 'thumbs-up', then made eye contact with his prey (30yds away) and slinked down in stealth mode......muzzle forward.
The island had some low trees and cane......so it's relatively thick cover, but nothing that would pose problems with stalking. But after he stalked about 10yds, we were forced to call the game on account of safety when Anne said, "BOYZ....those decoys are $18 apiece......I don't think you want to shoot any, today."
"AWE, MAN!!!" "WE DIDN'T SEE YOU GUYS" That's all that was said.....(at least, all that we could decifer).
Now, in retrospect, I couldn't help but feel a little compassion for the guys. I'm sure they are good guys and may even be decent hunters (except for this incident). They weren't the first to fall for our realistic decoy spread, so they shouldn't feel too bad. It's happened to a lot of hunters.....sneaking-up on someone's decoy spread.....and I don't care to know who they are, nor would I disclose their names even if I DID know them. They were just doing the same thing I was......trying to kill something.
That being said, (and again......given my proclivity to 'mess' with other hunters....in fun, of course), As they were motoring away, I turned to 'Gamehog' and said, "QUICK!........give'em a 'come-back' call!" (more snickers, tugging on the 'Flapper' string,.......and 'come-back' calls ).
Funny.......that hunt didn't produce a single honker. Oh, we had some close calls on honkers.....and moments when our hearts raced at the sight of honkers bowed-up, bearing-down on our decoys.......or the two that peeled-out of the flock of 20 and side-slipped 100yds torward us, only to rejoin the rest of the flock........but we just weren't lucky enough to hit pay dirt. But we got to know 'Gamehog' a little better (and his handle isn't reflective of the true sportsman he is) and we had a great time making the best of a dismal season. I'd want to be on his 'team', anyday!
Later in the morning, we were still chuckling about the morning's events when a couple of boats came from the other direction........"Hey.....here comes another bunch!!" (more snickers, tugging on the 'Flapper' string, and excited 'Greeting' calls )...........What a HUNT!! 
'Gamehog', Anne and I were set-up against a small island one morning, waiting for the honkers to fly through. Two flocks showed interest, but despite 2 dozen of the best honker floaters money can buy, a Higdon 'Flapper' and 3-man team calling, they opted for their pre-agreed destination (somewhere else). We DID manage to coax a single into the edge of the spread but he stayed just out of gun range.
About 8:30, we heard a boat motor and sighted the small craft containing 2 hunters and dog, angling toward another island 200yds to our East. They appeared to be looking for a place to 'set-up'. After a few minutes, they started motoring slowly toward us.
Anne remarked, "Surely they're not coming over here".
Well, this was the most interest anything had shown our spread in the past 2 hours. So (given my tendancy to mess with other hunters), I played along and instinctively reached for the string and gave 3 swift tugs on the 'Flapper' decoy........'Gamehog' snickered. This was our first hunt together so I related the story of relocating a fellow hunter's reflectors prior to opening day last year........and how he got lost in the fog in a stump field, trying to find his 'spot' in the dark. I thought that might give him some insight into my madness. 'Gamehog' being a 22-year Marine veteran understood my wharped sense of duty to take corrective action against the hunters that can't find their way in the dark.
On they came......but angling slightly toward a spot behind us. Three more tugs on the 'Flapper'. (We had bolted the 'Flapper' on top of a submerged stump......and it seemed to be doing it's job).
Then 'Gamehog' said, "give'em a couple o' nervous clucks." It was all I could do to stifle my laughter....but managed to produce a call that I never practice........nervous 'clucks'.
'Bout then, Anne could start to make-out some of the comments coming from the approaching craft. You could hear the excitement building in their voices. "O.K.......we'll circle around behind the island, I'll let you out, and I'll take the boat around and run'em up toward you." (More snickers, 'Flapper' string, and nervous clucks) "Man....look at'em......they're alll over the place!!" (More snickers, tugging on the 'Flapper' string,.......and nervous clucks).
They were now within 75 yds and approaching the opposite side of the island we were against. I began to feel a little compassion for the guys and asked Anne and 'Gamehog' if we should let'em know before they embarrass themselves too badly. 'Gamehog' said, "Naw, I'd let'em at least get out of the boat." (More snickers, 'Flapper' string and nervous clucks
).
It occured to us that we needed to plan how to announce our presence. We thought of a 3-gun salute (straight-up in the air), but we really didn't know what we were dealing with here. 'Gamehog' said we ought to let'em shoot a decoy"........( I really like the way this guy thinks). (More nervous 'clucks'). But we were between the stalker and the decoys and were a little concerned about our safety. I mean.....somebody sneaking up on my decoy spread with a loaded gun isn't something to take lightly. But we coulda gotten out of the boat and waded down the bank out of the line of fire, but didn't want to chance being detected. So we agreed that Anne would deliver the final blow.....in a female voice.
There's a long delay. I was standing-up in the boat (which remember, is between our stalkers and our decoys)......and I'm looking through binoculars to monitor the two guys behind us. There's some bumping around with them getting hung on stumps and submerged logs, impeding their amphibious assult on our island. Then I spot one fella in waders, making his way to land after giving his partner a good shove-off.
It seemed like 10 minutes, but after giving his buddy enough time to negotiate his way back through the stumps to open water, I finally saw the fella come-up on land. He kinda gathered himself, turned and gave his buddy the 'thumbs-up', then made eye contact with his prey (30yds away) and slinked down in stealth mode......muzzle forward.
The island had some low trees and cane......so it's relatively thick cover, but nothing that would pose problems with stalking. But after he stalked about 10yds, we were forced to call the game on account of safety when Anne said, "BOYZ....those decoys are $18 apiece......I don't think you want to shoot any, today."
"AWE, MAN!!!" "WE DIDN'T SEE YOU GUYS" That's all that was said.....(at least, all that we could decifer).
Now, in retrospect, I couldn't help but feel a little compassion for the guys. I'm sure they are good guys and may even be decent hunters (except for this incident). They weren't the first to fall for our realistic decoy spread, so they shouldn't feel too bad. It's happened to a lot of hunters.....sneaking-up on someone's decoy spread.....and I don't care to know who they are, nor would I disclose their names even if I DID know them. They were just doing the same thing I was......trying to kill something.
That being said, (and again......given my proclivity to 'mess' with other hunters....in fun, of course), As they were motoring away, I turned to 'Gamehog' and said, "QUICK!........give'em a 'come-back' call!" (more snickers, tugging on the 'Flapper' string,.......and 'come-back' calls
).
Funny.......that hunt didn't produce a single honker. Oh, we had some close calls on honkers.....and moments when our hearts raced at the sight of honkers bowed-up, bearing-down on our decoys.......or the two that peeled-out of the flock of 20 and side-slipped 100yds torward us, only to rejoin the rest of the flock........but we just weren't lucky enough to hit pay dirt. But we got to know 'Gamehog' a little better (and his handle isn't reflective of the true sportsman he is) and we had a great time making the best of a dismal season. I'd want to be on his 'team', anyday!
Later in the morning, we were still chuckling about the morning's events when a couple of boats came from the other direction........"Hey.....here comes another bunch!!" (more snickers, tugging on the 'Flapper' string, and excited 'Greeting' calls
)...........What a HUNT!!
Last edited by Anatidae on Wed Feb 02, 2005 11:07 am, edited 2 times in total.
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duckamateur
- Veteran
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- Joined: Thu Aug 12, 2004 9:14 am
- Location: Yazoo MS
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Millenium Mallard
- Veteran
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- Joined: Wed Jun 20, 2001 12:01 am
- Location: Gulfport
Hunting with my Uncle Steven in Lake Charles...first time I had been with him since his accident....he's just glad to be alive and I'm just glad to be in his blind with him.....the older you get, the less the actual number of ducks killed means to you....it's about the good times and good people along the way....
St.
St.
Watchin' my 9 year old son take a gadwall at 65+ yards with a 20ga (witnesses there, hell they missed him). I was just saying his name as he pulled the trigger ,knowing he should not shoot that far, and it fell.
Doubling with Ty (my son) on canvasbacks, two shots, two birds drop in the dekes.
Doubling on a pair of Widgeon, simultaneous shots, two birds.
Just watching him grow up learn the art of hunting ducks does this old duck dog good.
Doubling with Ty (my son) on canvasbacks, two shots, two birds drop in the dekes.
Doubling on a pair of Widgeon, simultaneous shots, two birds.
Just watching him grow up learn the art of hunting ducks does this old duck dog good.
........then there was the other day we hunted with 'Gamehog' and were covered-up in wood ducks. We had opportunities to shoot any of 60 or so birds swimming around me during the course of about an hour. 'Musta been 200 birds hit that hole, that morning.......most I've been that close to, in several years.
........and the day we hunted with another friend and were reminded what mallards floating down through the trees looks like, once again.
........and hunting with my wife for the 26th straight year
........and her buying me the new Yamaha 50 for my birthday
........and looking forward to going duck hunting again......just so I could play with my new motor.
........and getting revenge on the honkers after several 'near misses'
........and the fact that the first duck I killed this year was banded
........and only killing 4 mallards all year
........and seeing canvasbacks up close for the first time
........and having a honker within 20yds and not pulling the trigger because he just didn't seem to understand the danger he was in.
........and Canada.......oh yeah,......Canada
There's just too many wonderful memories of the season......maybe they'll last me 'til next year.
........and the day we hunted with another friend and were reminded what mallards floating down through the trees looks like, once again.
........and hunting with my wife for the 26th straight year
........and her buying me the new Yamaha 50 for my birthday
........and looking forward to going duck hunting again......just so I could play with my new motor.
........and getting revenge on the honkers after several 'near misses'
........and the fact that the first duck I killed this year was banded
........and only killing 4 mallards all year
........and seeing canvasbacks up close for the first time
........and having a honker within 20yds and not pulling the trigger because he just didn't seem to understand the danger he was in.
........and Canada.......oh yeah,......Canada
There's just too many wonderful memories of the season......maybe they'll last me 'til next year.
Right around Christmas I pulled the trigger once and dropped a pair of Mallards. Right after New Year's I had my 7 yr. old and a Buddy out there. We started off wrong, and moved out to a ditchbank on a huge field. We shot 2 snows, 2 bullsprigs, and 8 mallards all between 9 and 11 in the morning . Out of 8 we had one hen, and 7 Greenheads. 2 of the Greenheads were banded. That was a morning I will never forget. Wound up with 4 bands on the year!! Many great hunts with my Dad and my son. I bet the three of us hunted together 15 times, and I feel very lucky to have that opportunity. 7 months til dove season!!!
This is no longer a vacation, this is a quest, a quest for fun---Chevy Chase.
Four bands this year? I got 6 in 27 years, and one of those I got about 3 weeks ago.
I was hunting with one of my best hunting buddies, and he has never killed a banded bird. We were thick in the ducks that morning (very rare this year), and had decided we were shooting greenheads and bull sprigs, only. A pair of mallards came into the dekes, and we both jumped and shot the greenhead.
As the duck was falling, my buddy said, "that is your duck". I said, "are you sure, we shot at the same time"? He said ""yep, I was shooting behind him." When I went out to pick up the duck, he was banded. [FYI - the duck was banded in Saskacthewan in 2001 and was at least one year old when banded. Three of the banded mallards that I have killed were banded in Saskacthewan.]
We ended that moring with 8 greenheads, two bulls and two teal. Had to be one of the best, if not the best, hunts I have had in 3 years.
I was hunting with one of my best hunting buddies, and he has never killed a banded bird. We were thick in the ducks that morning (very rare this year), and had decided we were shooting greenheads and bull sprigs, only. A pair of mallards came into the dekes, and we both jumped and shot the greenhead.
As the duck was falling, my buddy said, "that is your duck". I said, "are you sure, we shot at the same time"? He said ""yep, I was shooting behind him." When I went out to pick up the duck, he was banded. [FYI - the duck was banded in Saskacthewan in 2001 and was at least one year old when banded. Three of the banded mallards that I have killed were banded in Saskacthewan.]
We ended that moring with 8 greenheads, two bulls and two teal. Had to be one of the best, if not the best, hunts I have had in 3 years.
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hotty toddy
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