Official 2013-2014 WFF West Coast Traveler

[3legged_lab]

I haven't seen one pic with the hat!!

I get one once I get down there.

[Redbeard]

Nice shoot, I forgot what the kick of my gun feels like.

Not the greatest of outings this morning.

Never shot a drake spoony. Want one for the wall though, beautiful bird.

Really? Never? Where are you hunting?

that's what I wanna know

[Redbeard]

Nice shoot, I forgot what the kick of my gun feels like.

Not the greatest of outings this morning.

Never shot a drake spoony. Want one for the wall though, beautiful bird.

Really? Never? Where are you hunting?

Most of the time on the lake here in lake county. We've only gone to the valley thrice this year, and the only other hunt outside of lake county was Modoc NWR on the 29th. We don't get a whole lot of spoonies on the lake, mostly wigeon and sprig for puddlers this year, and cans for divers.

too bad. Easy to kill. You coulda saved some shells. Maybe 130 birds with only 5 boxes

[jarbo03]

I haven't seen one pic with the hat!!

I get one once I get down there.

Supposed to be a hat with the decoy, was so awesome Skyler must have kept it

[Redbeard]

I haven't seen one pic with the hat!!

coming up

[jarbo03]

I haven't seen one pic with the hat!!

coming up

Charlie and Cadee also

[Redbeard]

They'll photo bomb every shot. At least cadee will. She's the diva. Charlie's that cool cat that fades into the background and would rather not be seen.

[jarbo03]

They'll photo bomb every shot. At least cadee will. She's the diva. Charlie's that cool cat that fades into the background and would rather not be seen.

Ha. As you know, I'm down for a good canine photo bomb.

[Redbeard]

I'll do my best. Even if I have to pose Charlie!

[jarbo03]

He has no choice, tell him I said so!

[sws002]

I haven't seen one pic with the hat!!

I get one once I get down there.

Supposed to be a hat with the decoy, was so awesome Skyler must have kept it

Don't think I didn't consider it! If it didn't make it to Cali it's because the post office confiscated it, probably some mail man wearing it on his route right now!

[ducks~n~bucks]

too bad. Easy to kill. You coulda saved some shells. Maybe 130 birds with only 5 boxes

I said It was just a guess and I must have over guessed. I just assumed 130 was typical number for how many times we had been hunting and what our bird average was, I did no math, just guessed.

[ducks~n~bucks]

If you meant to say "thrice", that's awesome.

i was thinking the same. i just let it go as a typo.

I meant to say it, but only out of laziness. I was too lazy to type three times, thrice is much easier

[GadwallGetter530]

If you meant to say "thrice", that's awesome.

i was thinking the same. i just let it go as a typo.

I meant to say it, but only out of laziness. I was too lazy to type three times, thrice is much easier

Thats awesome.

[QH's Paw]

Got the traveler on a hand off, at the end of the WFF WCH. I was too lazy to get out and scout or hunt the first day back home.
On Sunday, I took a look at the tides and decided it was an afternoon diver tide, so I slept in and took my time getting things ready. I didn't leave the house until noon and we didn't launch the boat from the pebble beach until around 1:00.
I would guess we weren't set up until at least 1:30 and, we had to wait another hour for the water level to drop enough to toss the traveler out(who put that short cord on it?).



It was a short time after that the first bird showed up. It was a Can hen and, being the bird hog I am, I took it out.



It was another hour and a half before we had another visitor to the longlines. He buzzed the lines from up river and just as he swung out toward the middle of the river, I gave him a couple burr burrs. He immediately swung a hook and came straight at us. It was my buddies turn and he hit him hard. My buddies first ever redhead and a nice one too.





We hunted right up to LST and didn't get another chance.
On the way back to the beach, we found out where all the Bills were. We drove through rafts for almost a solid mile. Thousands of them.
Tomorrow morning tides dictate puddler hunting first and divers later. We'll see how that goes. It'll be just me and the dog.

Here's little Red with the take for the day.

[assateague]

Are the redheads out there always that dark? I've shot very few around here, but the ones I did shoot were much closer to canvasbacks in color.

[The Duck Hammer]

That's what the ones I killed last year looked like.

[QH's Paw]

Are the redheads out there always that dark? I've shot very few around here, but the ones I did shoot were much closer to canvasbacks in color.

I haven't seen a ton of them but, the ones I've seen basically look just slightly darker than a Bluebill with a redhead and larger than a greater scaup.

[jarbo03]

Whete are the pics with the hat?

[QH's Paw]

Whete are the pics with the hat?

I think there are pics in WCH thread. I know pics were taken.

[QH's Paw]

Almost forgot, took the red bastard out today for a big goose egg day. I am having second thoughts about that red bastard going with us tomorrow.

[banknote]

Almost forgot, took the red bastard out today for a big goose egg day. I am having second thoughts about that red bastard going with us tomorrow.

You weren't the only giant goose egg out there today, I can tell you that. The island was very quiet. Saturday was the same way for me. At least I'm not spending a lot on ammo this season. Maybe the traveler will turn my luck around for the last week.

[QH's Paw]

Almost forgot, took the red bastard out today for a big goose egg day. I am having second thoughts about that red bastard going with us tomorrow.

You weren't the only giant goose egg out there today, I can tell you that. The island was very quiet. Saturday was the same way for me. At least I'm not spending a lot on ammo this season. Maybe the traveler will turn my luck around for the last week.

This decoy is full of luck....the wrong kind.

[QH's Paw]

We started off in the fog this morning.



For anyone who doubts the strength of the bad mojo on this damn decoy.
First issue, birds light up the set and Rods gun doesn't even click when he squeezes the trigger. His firing pin was seized. He was able to break it loose and then his gun shot fine but, mine had an issue with light strikes. I tore it apart twice and would still get the light strikes every other time.
Then, while sitting in the blind with my buddy today, he informs me he got canned yesterday.
Not long after that, I get a call from his wife. She asked me to run him to a drop off spot on the beach so he can take their daughter to emergency. They thought she had appendicitis. So, I ran him and his birds to the beach for a pickup. Fortunately, Cheyenne is just fine.
Rod left his shotgun for me to use.
Here is the pic of Rod and his birds at the drop off.



The widgeon was a gimme from someone upriver. It came floating by after a volley somewhere in the fog.
The first bird that came in after he left I took a shot and then his gun froze up and wouldn't eject the spent hull. FUCK ME!
I opened it up and got things in order and working and put the hurts on the next bill in to the set. Unfortunately, I didn't hurt him enough and the next thing I know the dog is chasing him off in the fog. I run and get the boat and, in the mean toime, the dog has been yipping and barking and the cripple has dove and I have no idea where the fuck it is. I get a few glimpses of him but end up losing him in the fog. SHIT!
By the time the dog and I get back to the blind on the bank, it is going under water with the rising tide. I say screw it and get all the stuff in the boat and sit on the floor of the boat.
So, I'm getting the idea this deek is nothing but bad luck. So, I text a few fellow WFF members and there are three choices given: light it on fire in place, take it back to the truck and leave it or, the Assafix piss on it. I din't take it to the truck and I didn't burn it. That's all I'm sayin'.
Not 15 minutes pass and 3 birds try to set on the blocks. I hit the 2 drakes and give the hen a free pass. As the dog delivers the second bird, 2 more drakes drop out of no where with landing gear down. BOOM! and I'm done with the bills. I sat and drank coffee to watch the birds and then called it quits for the day.
The deek, Dog and the bills for the day.



The deek is listing after the last few days on the river. I will probably not take it to the river tomorrow.

[Feelin' Fowl]

Great write up QHP.

Bring it tomorrow. Sounds like you were able to assafix it...

[RickC]

Great write up QHP, but there goes auctioning it off for charity. LOL

[banknote]

No wonder you're trying to drop it off here early! It can definitely wait until Saturday.

[AKPirate]

No wonder you're trying to drop it off here early! It can definitely wait until Saturday.

[jehler]

In all fairness, it's my observation that it isn't the actual decoys that are jinxed, it's only when they become "traveling" decoys does the hex rear its head. Saying I'll take that block for a weekend and put some birds over it is akin to using rodeo experience to gauge your prowess at any given talent or occupation...bad luck

[QH's Paw]

Well, I left the deek home yesterday. For two reasons. First, it was to be a short hunt because I had to work and, second because the thing needs to dry out before I hand it off to Banknote on Saturday morning.
The fact it was bad luck may, or may not have, weighed on the decision.
You guys be the judge. We were only able to get about 2 1/2 hours in for the hunt. That's considerably less than the other days.
Total of 10 birds between 2 of us, 5 bills, 2 ringers, 2 buffies and a lone retarded widgeon.
I took the old dog for the day.



You be the judge. Were our results better due to the red bastard's absence?