Opening morning - 10/11/14

[Woody]

Temp: 32* early and ended at 40*
Wind: N at 2mph
Weather: clear Blue skies with fog
LST: 7:17

We left the house at 4:30 and got set and in the blind by 6.
Three more groups set up with in 1/4 mile of us.
It was obvious early that there weren't many birds on the roost to our east. Not many calls ringing out.
The day ended up alright tho, we probably saw a couple hundred ducks, and a hundred geese or so.

Started out with 12 shots and no ducks, but the day got better as we went on.
Ended with 5 ducks and 2 geese. Not great, but not bad.

Highlight: titz almost got his foot broken be a goose that fell out of the sky and right in the blind.

[Woody]

image.jpg

[Olly]

Nice! I'm jealous and can't wait to be up there.

[DComeaux]

Sweet, woody! We have 4 weeks to wait, but I'm in no hurry. It's hot and humid down here right now.

[NuffDaddy]

Nice! I'm jealous and can't wait to be up there.

My buddy is in the UP deer hunting and says that divers are pouring through right now. You should have some great hunting up there.

[NuffDaddy]

And nice work woody!

[Woody]

Nice! I'm jealous and can't wait to be up there.

My buddy is in the UP deer hunting and says that divers are pouring through right now. You should have some great hunting up there.

I hope they are not already passed thru in a week and a half.


Thanks guys.

[NuffDaddy]

Nice! I'm jealous and can't wait to be up there.

My buddy is in the UP deer hunting and says that divers are pouring through right now. You should have some great hunting up there.

I hope they are not already passed thru in a week and a half.


Thanks guys.

Worst case you'll get sea ducks instead.

[Woody]

Nice! I'm jealous and can't wait to be up there.

My buddy is in the UP deer hunting and says that divers are pouring through right now. You should have some great hunting up there.

I hope they are not already passed thru in a week and a half.


Thanks guys.

Worst case you'll get sea ducks instead.

That's best case.

[NuffDaddy]

Nice! I'm jealous and can't wait to be up there.

My buddy is in the UP deer hunting and says that divers are pouring through right now. You should have some great hunting up there.

I hope they are not already passed thru in a week and a half.


Thanks guys.

Worst case you'll get sea ducks instead.

That's best case.

Then I don't think you'll have to worry. Don't they winter here?

[Woody]

I would like to shoot a nice bull red head as well this year.

[Woody]

I felt like adding a few details that may help newer hunters learn what or what not to do.
Location:
A 50 yard across by 200 yards long opening in a small marsh. Birds roost and loaf at this location and just to the east.

Gear:
2 goose decoys
10 duck decoys (woodies/mallards/wigeon/pintail)
2 mojos
4 kayaks
4 man permanent blind
2 Franchi I-12, a Mossburg 500, and a Rem 1187 (Problems: None)

Decoy strategy:
We cut a hole in the lily pads earlier in the year about 10 yards in diameter in front of the blind. We placed our decoys in the lily pads leaving the opening clear for ducks to land (this may or may not have been a problem). We placed the goose decoys off to the north west of the duck decoys. The Mojos were set up in the lily pads and pointed to look like they were going to land in the hole.
Because we came in on kayaks we were limited on our quantity. So, we only had 14 decoys which I think that plus putting the decoys in the lilies ended up costing us birds. The guys a few hundred yards away came in with 40-50 decoys which made their spread very visible and drew in the majority of the birds. I assume the visibility was the key, because we have hunted this blind may times and we usually kill more birds than any one else in the marsh because typically we are on the "X" here (I'm a social butterfly and always talk to everyone back at the launch to see how they did). Plus their calling was good awful, their blind was not very well brushed, we could see and hear them moving around all morning from a few hundred yards away.

[jarbo03]

Nice shoot Woody.

[Deltaman]

Glad you killed some birds Woody, and appreciate the report! Putting the decoys in the pads does make them harder to see for passing ducks, but the two robos should've helped remedy. Nice being able to hunt a spot with just a handful of decoys!