Today's birthday scull...

[Redbeard]

Pulled into a private mill pond I hunt on some logging company land about 0900. The pond's about 40 acres. Right off the bat I spotted a hooded merganser with mate at the northwest corner of the pond where I pulled into. Good sign. Drive around to the back side and spotted another hoodie with his mate at the northeast corner. Another good sign. Drove to the back side and spotted two woodies, a bull can and a group of ringers loafing in the lilly pads at the back southeast corner. My dilemma was which to chase. I decided to skip the hoodies for now and go after the woodies and Can, hoping I could drop at least two of the three. They were within 10 yards of each other. Put my boat in and skirted the eastern shore right up to the lillies.

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Nice thing is that the lilies stand up outta the water 2"-3" kinda obscuring the birds view of me. Of course they obscure my view alittle too. Pulled along side the lilies and poked my head up. Daggum woodies disappeared. I spooked about 15 ringnecks out. Can had moved out to the opeb water at the edge of the lillies bout 25 yards out. Before I could get any closer, he jumped up with 2-3 ringers. I led him by a school bus and he hit the water dead.

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A young one. Not fully plumed. But I'll take it.

Started glassing again for the hoodies but they had split. It really isn't a big pond. But I spotted 5-6 ringnecks dive into some lilies at the southwest corner. Started my scull bout 200 yards out. Damn birds were tucked way back into the lilies. Sculled into them about 20 yards. Couldn't see a damned thing. Took a peak and when I did they jumped. Did my best to pick out the drake. Got lucky

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Loaded up and drove ten minutes north to a lagoon. From the road I glassed about ten mallards loafing along the edge of some tules. I put in at the launch and circled around em. Again I skirted bout 3'-4' from the edge of the tules to where the birds were. But they had gone into the tules a few feet and I lost sight of em, until a hen jumped out in front of me bout 15 feet away. Smoked her over my bow as the others jumped up and flew away on my right side from about the same distance. Sitting flat on my butt I had to turn 90 degrees to the right to shoot. Luckily I connected on a greenhead.

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I headed for a marshy area in the back corner where I had glassed a few mallards from a distance earlier. The survivors from my last scull had dove down into this bunch. My guess was there were maybe 7-8 mallards tucked into this marshy cove. Then from about 400 yards out I could tell there were 15+ getting settled in there. I gave the birds bout 10 minutes to settle down since the most recent bunch had just been shot at.

Trying to figure out my approach on this one was tough. I've hunted this marsh before with decoys and knew the water was shallow. Like 2'-3' shallow. But as I neared them I was able to put a small island of tules between me and them, hiding my approach. Like before I sucked into the edge of the island and tried to scull around it. There were 5 mallards in my view, but the bigger bunch I was hoping to surprise was further around the island. Unfortunately about 45-50 yards from the 5, my damn boat ran ashore. Shit! The 5 were looking right at me. I could hear the big bunch round the tules splashing and talking maybe 20 yards away, but no way I could get a shot at them. Eased the safety off, sat up and flock shot. Dropped one greenhead. Of course I wasn't thinking bout how I'd retrieve a bird 50 yards out with a boat thats stuck. Had get out into shin deep water which eventually filled my mud boots.

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On my way back to the boat launch a drake buffie decided it would be a good idea to do a flyby. Negative ghost rider.

The lagoon was fulla buffies and I mighta been able to scope out another mallard at its northern end to finish my limit, but I was satisfied.

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[Mornin Beef]

Positive ghost rider! best post of the month!!!! Awesome mixed bag too! Happy b-day.

[DeadEye_Dan]

Good deal Red!

[Mornin Beef]

Why dont ya throw a lick of gray paint on it though. Just the tan works better?

[Redbeard]

Why dont ya throw a lick of gray paint on it though. Just the tan works better?

it's actually a marsh grass green. In my area most all bodies of water i scull are surrounded by forests. The green matches the reflection of the water better. On overcast days in the bay away from the green background, I suppose a battleship gray would work better

[Flightstopper]

Good stuff Red. I can see how this would get addictive.

[goodkarmarising]

Great mixed bag

[sws002]

Well done and Happy Birthday!

[Eric Haynes]

I'm officially looking for a scull boat now. Thanks Red. Wife is already pissed.

[jarbo03]

Awesome hunt Aaron, great stor. Happy bday!

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

[3legged_lab]

You brained that buff! Nice write up, and happy birthday Aaron.

[Redbeard]

Thanks for the happy birthdays. And yea that poor buffie. I cripped him originally. He sailed out bout 50 yards out directly between me and a couple guys in a fishing boat. I rowed after him but he kept swimming at the fishing boat, as if he knew I couldn't shoot him cause they were down range. I eventually cut him off. Turned him and smoked him after he came up from a dive. The backside of his skull is wide open and all brain matter is fish chum

[Eric Haynes]

How much practice time did you put in to get good enough at it to actually scull up to birds? I've always wanted to do it but you just don't see them around here for sale.

[3legged_lab]

How much practice time did you put in to get good enough at it to actually scull up to birds?

All last season.

[Redbeard]

Honestly eric I am far from a food sculler. I sculled quite a bit last season. Before that I sculled a bit bout3 years go. If youre serious bout learnin the technique you can get it Dow. unless your retarded

[Redbeard]

Damn that whole sounded retarded

[Eric Haynes]

Damn that whole sounded retarded

I want some of what you are drinking. Happy birthday!

[Eric Haynes]

Honestly eric I am far from a food sculler. I sculled quite a bit last season. Before that I sculled a bit bout3 years go. If youre serious bout learnin the technique you can get it Dow. unless your retarded

Obtaining the boat at a reasonable price will be the hardest part. Looks like a lot of fun.

[3legged_lab]

Damn that hole sounded retarded

nobody wants a retarted hole.

[Eric Haynes]

Damn that hole sounded retarded

nobody wants a retarted hole.

Or do they.....

[Redbeard]

Honestly eric I am far from a food sculler. I sculled quite a bit last season. Before that I sculled a bit bout3 years go. If youre serious bout learnin the technique you can get it Dow. unless your retarded

Obtaining the boat at a reasonable price will be the hardest part. Looks like a lot of fun.

you're on theeast coat right? They gotta be round

[Redbeard]

Damn that hole sounded retarded

nobody wants a retarted hole.

shit!!

[Goldfish]

Well red, your posting has went downhill so I can only assume you are enjoying your birthday. Happy birthday.

That Buffie took quite the noggin shot, lol. I don't know why, but I like the way ringers look. You got a nice one. Well done.

sent from a phancy fone

[QH's Paw]

Great B-day hunt Red.
I like that ringbill, has a good crimson ring on his neck for this early.
I get ringnecks here but, not many with the crimson visible in a picture.

[Ajverret]

I don't think we can do that here in La I think it considered creepin and that's illegal and the green jeans will smoke u for it

[Eric Haynes]

Well red, your posting has went downhill so I can only assume you are enjoying your birthday. Happy birthday.

That Buffie took quite the noggin shot, lol. I don't know why, but I like the way ringers look. You got a nice one. Well done.

sent from a phancy fone

They are my favorite ducks to eat here. Mighty tasty.

[Redbeard]

Great B-day hunt Red.
I like that ringbill, has a good crimson ring on his neck for this early.
I get ringnecks here but, not many with the crimson visible in a picture.

good eyes mike. The mill pond I hint is fulla ringnecks

[Redbeard]

Well red, your posting has went downhill so I can only assume you are enjoying your birthday. Happy birthday.

That Buffie took quite the noggin shot, lol. I don't know why, but I like the way ringers look. You got a nice one. Well done.

sent from a phancy fone

They are my favorite ducks to eat here. Mighty tasty.

thats funny. Most people here turn their noses up to em

[Mornin Beef]

not sure, but i have been holding in tons of laughter from the pic of boots airing on the hood of the scull with the socks pretending to dry out. HAHAHAHHA

[Bootlipkiller]

Damn red cool hunt! Congratulations and I would have gone after the hoods, never shot one.