I had a meeting out of town on Thursday, so I took my rig and hunting buddy and we "mosied" out to the duck pond afterwards.
I set up Friday morning in the dark and nailed a nice mallard drake first thing. Then birds started filtering in, but just looked at my spread and left. I got interested and "wandered" over to the next bay. Pay-dirt, hundred of birds. I grabbed 1/2 dozen decoys and "ambled" over to the new area. It wasn't hand-over-fist, but I picked up my remaining 5 birds over the next 1 1/2 hours. It was a good day.
Here is a nice pintail drake that still had some life in him after he hit the water. Axl held until I got my camera out and documented the chase.
Eight-five pounds of duck-catcher bearing down.
You can run, but you can't hide. Well maybe for a little while. The bird did a few dives before Axl could finally stop the intruder.
Here is another one that thought he could get away. WRONG
It was a good day.
This morning was even better with another limit of greenheads and another pintail drake sixth duck. I set up in a new spot and killed my 5 mallards in the first 11 minutes of legal shooting light. Took another 45 minutes to find something other than a mallard, but we got it done.
Another hunting buddy was late, but I stuck around with him trying to get a few ducks. Unfortunatley the birds learned well and he was only able to get a mallard and a "pinny". See what happend when you are late.
Interesting sign at the boat launch, I think they need to reavaluate their habitat.
I also did a little bowhunting. The wind was wrong, but I thought there were worse places to spend the evening. One small buck came in, but he was safe. I was to busy enjoying another day in MT. Life is good.
I set up Friday morning in the dark and nailed a nice mallard drake first thing. Then birds started filtering in, but just looked at my spread and left. I got interested and "wandered" over to the next bay. Pay-dirt, hundred of birds. I grabbed 1/2 dozen decoys and "ambled" over to the new area. It wasn't hand-over-fist, but I picked up my remaining 5 birds over the next 1 1/2 hours. It was a good day.
Here is a nice pintail drake that still had some life in him after he hit the water. Axl held until I got my camera out and documented the chase.
Eight-five pounds of duck-catcher bearing down.
You can run, but you can't hide. Well maybe for a little while. The bird did a few dives before Axl could finally stop the intruder.
Here is another one that thought he could get away. WRONG
It was a good day.
This morning was even better with another limit of greenheads and another pintail drake sixth duck. I set up in a new spot and killed my 5 mallards in the first 11 minutes of legal shooting light. Took another 45 minutes to find something other than a mallard, but we got it done.
Another hunting buddy was late, but I stuck around with him trying to get a few ducks. Unfortunatley the birds learned well and he was only able to get a mallard and a "pinny". See what happend when you are late.
Interesting sign at the boat launch, I think they need to reavaluate their habitat.
I also did a little bowhunting. The wind was wrong, but I thought there were worse places to spend the evening. One small buck came in, but he was safe. I was to busy enjoying another day in MT. Life is good.
