SpinnerMan 2021-2022 Season Summary

[SpinnerMan]

The summary of my waterfowl season is easy. Almost a complete bust except for a great crane trip to Texas.

Species - My harvest / Total group harvest including my harvest
Canada Geese - 0/1
Ducks - 0/0
Cranes 9/92

I only went duck and/or goose hunting 5 days all season. I shot and missed at a goose one day and shot and missed a duck another. That was it for my DIY season. Two shots / zero kills.

The saving grace and why I hunted so few days for ducks is I had a lot of fun deer hunting. I saw deer most days I was out. I harvested a young buck. I had a few close calls with big buck. No arrows released. All told, I took the safety off on my crossbow at least a half dozen different times, twice on big bucks. A number of times I had does just out of range. The only down side was the last day of my season I gut shot what should have been a gimme on a nice young doe and never recovered her.

I didn't get out at all for late goose season. When I had planned to head back north, the crazy high numbers for the Omicron variant made me worry I might get stuck up there for longer than planned. Didn't seem worth the risk. Not getting the virus, but being unable to fly or quarantined and stuck in Illinois in February instead of Florida. On the plus side, if there is one, hunting was not that great. Maybe if it were I would have been more apt to gamble

[Deltaman]

At least your Crane hunt was a big success!!!!!!

[Rick]

Indeed. Know that's a "bucket list" hunt for many.

[SpinnerMan]

Indeed. Know that's a "bucket list" hunt for many.

I'm trying to get in at least one "bucket list" trip a year now.

I'm debating on a duck hunting trip to Mexico next February.

I just booked two half day flats trips in the Florida Keys for the end of March. If I can get a tarpon, that will definitely be one thing that has been on my list for the longest time.

December we are booked for three days of sea ducks in Maine. Definitely another bucket list trip for many waterfowlers.

I turned down a safari in South Africa this April. That was never on my list, but it sure was tempting. I expected to have shoulder surgery right now, but the MRI just showed I'm getting older and nothing specific to fix. So I'm in physical therapy. Heading to Africa with an effed up shoulder seemed like a good way to have a really bad experience. The shoulder seems a little better. We'll see.

Now I just need to figure out how to get a couple days of duck hunting in the mudhole

[Duck Engr]

Have heard you can parlay that Mexico duck hunt into a beach trip for the wife as well. Y’all stay beachfront, guide picks you up at the house/condo, you hunt that morning and are back for lunch and afternoon fun with the lady.

[SpinnerMan]

Have heard you can parlay that Mexico duck hunt into a beach trip for the wife as well.

Much of Mexico is very sketchy, so definitely know where you are going. Two things make me feel comfortable with the outfitter we are thinking about. Actually three, because they were the same outfitter for the crane trip and were incredibly professional and well organized. The other two is they have been doing this a while and you fly to Brownsville and they pick you up in Texas and drive you there. The whole time in Mexico, you are with them. The second is my buddy who is from Mexico and still has family there. Last time he went home for some reason for his mother, he arrived in his home town at 11AM, did what he had to do, and left the same day at 3PM. He's from one of those places that you just do not go. He'd be going along and he is comfortable with everything. I'd say I'm 50/50 on this right now. It's not a cheap trip.

I don't think the wife will be going. They actually do morning and afternoon hunts every day. Ducks all three mornings. Afternoons, you have a choice of quail, doves, and ducks. Probably do one of each in the afternoon. Not a lot of time with the wife. Plus, we rent a condo on the beach in Florida from mid-December through all of April. Every day is a beach trip for her that time of year