9/23/2018
Temp HOT - Wind 5 to 10 SE Cloudy with storms visible far to the west
Equipment - (2) standard spinners. One facing N-S, and the other E-W, elevated above the marsh grass level for better visibility.
Me (SOLO)
Birds- 2 BW
Spent the afternoon and evening alone, as Blake had other commitments for the weekend, and Bennett headed home early afternoon after we went out and caught a few shrimp for me to bring home.
I was surprised by a 15 to 20 bird group that came from my left and buzzed the decoys just a few minutes after LST. They had busted me and didn't respond to the call. The two birds came in as singles, and were taken in as many shots. I spotted a large group headed my may sometime after my second bird was taken, and a few near the front broke hard to the call. When I peaked out again the entire bunch were swinging over the decoys and I was sure they'd turn hard and set up into the wind straight out in front, they didn't. The group began to head out SE low level and I laid em hard with the call. They made it out a good ways before making a hard turn back in my direction. I again let them dive over me heading downwind at a pretty good clip knowing they'd whip around like others have done many times in the past....It didn't happen. They continued on to the south untouched.
I need get out of the habit of trying to get the birds 'just right". This used to be the norm for me over the years, but as of late, it doesn't work. We get busted in this blind we're in now, and I can't wait until we're buried in the marsh. Next weekend if we're lucky enough to have birds, I will not make this mistake.
My alone time was really nice this morning. I got to watch a beautiful sunrise.
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I was going to gift the two birds I took this morning to the guys I hunt with but they had already left. One blind took 2 and the other had 3, I think? When I got home and began cleaning the birds, grabbing a leg I noticed a stained band. I'm really glad those guy's had left, because I hadn't noticed it. Take notice of the address for guy that banded this bird.
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I forgot to mention that we had three big pintail drakes cupped and dropping in on the decoys yesterday (9/22). They got really close and busted us. The mottled ducks are plentiful as well, landing a few in the decoys.