Figuring this out

[banknote]

I'm fairly new to this, and still figuring out my own program when not hunting with more seasoned friends. I managed to connect a few dots today. Blew plenty of chances to fill out the limit at 7 with another green head. Passed on a few hens. Could have shot several more pintail if they weren't limited to two, but still had lots of fun calling them in and saying "lucky duck."

Yeehaw.

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[Bootlipkiller]

Nice hunt! where bouts you at?

[banknote]

Nice hunt! where bouts you at?

Thanks! I live Portland and mostly hunt within a few hours of here.

[Bootlipkiller]

Cool I've been through Portland a few times. We hit the Columbia river in June for sturgeon, it's a ducky looking place.

[GadwallGetter530]

Nice hunt! where bouts you at?

Internet scout!!!!!

[banknote]

Nice hunt! where bouts you at?

Internet scout!!!!!

Yep. No spot within 3 hours of Portland is safe, now.

[3legged_lab]

Great shoot note, we are froze up solid down here at the bottom part of the state. I'm jealous.

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[banknote]

Great shoot note, we are froze up solid down here at the bottom part of the state. I'm jealous.

sent from my Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2

I was gonna head east this weekend, but same problem out there. We've had it too warm around here, mostly, and ducks are spread all over the flooded fields. Okay if you have access, but I'm not a member. Temps got into the 20's this past week and shooting got better. Hope it keeps up. Headed out tomorrow so we'll see if they're still around.

[QH's Paw]

Great shoot note, we are froze up solid down here at the bottom part of the state. I'm jealous.

sent from my Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2

I was gonna head east this weekend, but same problem out there. We've had it too warm around here, mostly, and ducks are spread all over the flooded fields. Okay if you have access, but I'm not a member. Temps got into the 20's this past week and shooting got better. Hope it keeps up. Headed out tomorrow so we'll see if they're still around.

Yep, the cold weather has driven more birds to the rivers. There is less sheet water around where I am. The stuff that is still there seems to freeze at night so the birds aren't using them as much, if at all. I saw snow and sleet on the river yesterday.

[banknote]

Great shoot note, we are froze up solid down here at the bottom part of the state. I'm jealous.

sent from my Galaxy S3 using tapatalk 2

I was gonna head east this weekend, but same problem out there. We've had it too warm around here, mostly, and ducks are spread all over the flooded fields. Okay if you have access, but I'm not a member. Temps got into the 20's this past week and shooting got better. Hope it keeps up. Headed out tomorrow so we'll see if they're still around.

Yep, the cold weather has driven more birds to the rivers. There is less sheet water around where I am. The stuff that is still there seems to freeze at night so the birds aren't using them as much, if at all. I saw snow and sleet on the river yesterday.

It was 10 degrees warmer yesterday morning, no ice. Still birds flying, but various factors limited an optimal setup. I brought two friends and we works lots of birds, got a handful to commit and killed a few, but it wasn't quite the epic repeat I was hoping for.

The day's lesson: It's a lot easier to hide and stick to a consistent program when you're alone than with two other guys and a dog.

[banknote]

Took a friend to a good river spot where ducks like to be when sheet water freezes up. Wasn't as cold as we'd expected, but got a decent shoot in, anyway.

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At first light we had about 30 mallards trying to pile in on top of us. We waited for the first couple to hit the water, but they bounced out and landed about 70 yards up at the end of the slough. May be should have taken them, but we were both spellbound and somewhat overwhelmed by the spectacle! After quacking back and forth for a while with a mouthy hen, we put the sneak on. They boiled out before we could get close enough for a shot, so we hustled back to the blind and had fun shooting at returning singles and pairs. Probably ought to have had 2-3 more dead ducks on the bow.

[assateague]

That still sounds like an awfully fun hunt!

[banknote]

That still sounds like an awfully fun hunt!

It certainly was. Just getting to see those mallards piling in on us was worth the price of admission.

A little piece of our setup. Last time I hunted here, the water was up to at least about where my hat is.

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