Certainly a Duck Day

Hello again all my technologically advanced and well connected waterfowl enthusiast friends. Well, I remember posting something about preparedness in my last post. Was a bit of a late start this am but got to the ditch just in time. The wind was howling like a mutha and it was just too much work for one man to move the deeks. The big foots were falling over every 30 secs and after awhile the re-setting up just wasn't worth the fight. Must admit wasn't a very good aiming day. Had 3 different volleys and came home empty handed. The bottoms sounded like World War III for a couple hours this morning. North South East and West there was shooting all over the place! Not a plethora of new ducks but there were some nonetheless. Nice to see some already. Will be back up Sunday. Check back for the latest and greatest and thanks for all the hits.

Hello?

Hello again all my technologically advanced and well connected waterfowl enthusiast friends.  It appears that the water-fowling community actually reads this blog and some of you have been wondering if I had retired from being a "word-smith."  Well I haven't and I'm glad to report we have had a bit of action the last 10 days or so.  I start 10 days ago on a Wednesday.  A south windy day and there were birds around.  A wrecking crew of 3 manged to hammer down on 6 ducks, should've been more, but one of them happened to be outside the blind with the dog when about 12 came in "hot."  The Wednesday morning was soooooo good that after the morning hunt, lunch and a nap, one guy decided to roll back out late afternoon.  No disappointment, brought home 2 gaddys on the afternoon shoot.  The only real mishap was on a single can, "one more pass" got em and no steel flew. 
The next day, Thursday had a zero in the bag and very little going on.
Fast-Forward to Sunday, I would like to title this day "Two Too Many."  A one man show began with trying to calculate "leave" time Saturday night after a few too many hops and barley.  Mistake number one, showed up late, after shooting time and kicked off birds.  Next comes some screaming teal, again a bit foggy from the night before, didn't even pull up the gun.  Later, it was time for a muffin, after opening it up and taking a bite, oops, dropped on the floor, reached for it and stepped on it, hit head on shelf, immediately looked up and had 7 dropping in hard.  3 shots and not a bird.  I've been told that LUCK is when preparation meets opportunity.  This day definitely had nothing to do with that.  After a bit of frustration, it was time to leave. 
Now on to yesterday, no morning hunt and afternoon hunt and no birds.  Will be in the ditch in the AM with some opportunity.  I haven't had any fine pilsner this evening so we should be ready to go.  This wind has been howling out of the NNW for about 24 hours now and there has to be some new birds heading in.  Please check back for the latest and greatest and thanks for all the hits.

Opening Morning

Hello again all my technologically advanced and well connected waterfowl enthusiast friends.  It's official, the season has opened.  We have until December to keep the blog full and active.  We will see how long it lasts. 
The first morning was a bag of nothing.  The plus side is that we laid down a handful of groups but were not set up for the South Wind.  They went all around us and away from us landing on the water.  We did fire a marginal shot and even with 3 guns we couldn't find any feathers when the smoke cleared.  Lots of first light shots around the area that we could hear.  Saw a fair amount of ducks moving and some Can's too.  All staying on the river.  Seems like there are more birds than we have been accustomed to the last couple years on opening weekend.  Things slowed quickly and we were OUT by 930AM with nothing to clean.  The dogs got some exercise, the Polaris got the cob webs cleaned out and we're off to the races.  Another season upon us and with it comes early mornings, over-thinking, blogs, stories and fights with the wife.  Ah, the life of a waterfowler!  That's all I got for now, check back for the latest and greatest and thanks for all the hits.

First Day

Well we went out for a quick breakfast and a little work after the first flight. The young man with us hammered a blue wing with the first shot of the morning, not a bad start. Emptied the gun a few more times and some "smiley's" but he missed. A successful first morning. The area is looking good and there are some birds floating around. Everyone is pumping water and with a little weather late week there should be plenty around for opening weekend. That's all for now, check back for the latest and greatest. The picture above was Friday morning about 200 pelican sitting on the water.

What a Sight

Thursday was a bit tough.  Had two gun "clicks" for the day.  One on 3 that broke off nice and came down, the other on 2.  Managed to get two shot off on the 2nd group after the "click" and missed.  Oh well was a great day with great sights to see all the duck in the video above.  Hunting Sunday, hoping the rain/clouds forecast will keep 'em low.  Check back for the latest and greatest.

Alleluia

If you've been reading, you may remember a post talking about piles of geese today.  The pile was just a bit small today.  It consisted of just one, but we didn't get skunked, the first day was a success.  A 30 man limit of Pintail could have easily been had while we were watching thousands of snow geese fly overhead.  The Specks are still flyin full-force, along with the Can's.  Cannot believe the birds we see in the Spring, it's truly an amazing site.  Sure is a test of one's will having all those birds that you CANNOT  shoot just a few yards from the barrel of a feather duster.  As the pic shows we dusted one Ross and that's it.  The weather men were a bit off on the wind today.  We had a nice migratory South wind until about 1PM and then, hold your hats, that North Wind that came up and pretty much ruined our spread.  The next two days, if you believe 'em or not, are supposed to be Big South Monday and nice South Tuesday.  Based on what we saw today, if you're in on taking time off or moving your schedule for snow geese, the next couple days should be good.  That's all I got for now, check back for the latest and greatest.

Holy Numbers

Recent Report:  Reported that as of March 1, 2012 they are reporting up to 3 million geese in the Kearney area, and up to 1 million near and around the Grand Island, area.  They also reported 1.5 million light geese on the north side of Squaw Creek NWR in Missouri.

Prelude to "The Chase"

The prelude to "the chase" has begun.  Went up late morning just to take a peak at what was going on.  Plenty of Specks, Cans and Ducks.  Some snow geese too, finally.  It's "go time"!  We will have bodies piled up Sunday by noon and we will let you all know just how we did it after all these years or trying.  This year is it, I can feel it!  Check back for the latest and greatest.

About ready, might be too late?

So we're flipping around the Internet today and see that squaw creek went from 1million down to 300,000?  Where did they all go?  They definitely aren't here.  We have seen and heard roughly zero migrating snows to speak of.  Maybe these winds the last few days pushed 'em back South?  Who knows, we're heading out Sunday for the first hunt so I hope to have some news for those of you who are anxiously waiting.   That's all for now, check back for the latest and greatest.

The Great Chase (once again)

Well, we're partially ready to go.  Went up today and got rid of some weeds and made sure the pond was muddy.  We pulled the plug on the last day in the Fall/Winter and it paid off.  On the ride down, there were probably about 1000 or so ducks that all kicked up the closer we got.  What a sight the ducks are this time of year.  If you don't shoot anything, it's definitely worth the watch.  The temps are going to fall this next few days and I believe the migration will come to a halt for a bit.  The planned first trip is next Sunday.  Squaw creek, 13 days ago had a million2 and they are down a couple hundred thousand to a measly million.  The Cans have been pushing for 3 or 4 days and today was no different.  That's all I got for now, good luck and good chasing.  See ya next time, same channel, same place.