Yet Another Rebuttal

Again...I must applogize for taking up space on our blog with responding to unwanted and unwarranted comments concerning our Ditch. The most recent comment again posted by Waterfowl Wizard:.
"Not So, I really do appreciate your flair for the written word. Let me set the record straight, I've hunted more counties than you've driven through. I can turn a call backwards and make it sound better. I still don't know if you can or can't shoot since anything outside of 6 yds is marginal to you. Oh by the way...don't be so sure about the position of your blind being correct, it's obvious to me you're not that great with direction. Correct me if I'm wrong...isn't the new killing zone NE of your location? Good to hear from you again, look forward to many more "friendly" exchanges."

You know the old adage "friends are friends only when hunting in the same Ditch."

Rebuttal #1 - hunted more counties/driven through - I guess I forgot to mention I just got back from a 60 hour road trip to Seward, Alaska it was about 4351 miles, so you hunting more places than I've driven - YEAH, NOT SO MUCH!

Rebuttal #2 - you turning a call backwards - Correct ME if I'm wrong but haven't you been, or haven't you recently taken calling lessons? Don't know what they are teaching you and why they would be showing you how to blow calls backward. Oh wait...I heard about that once, it was in that book, "Mastering the Duck Call" by Helen Keller.

Rebuttal #3 - marginal shot - like the name says "SURE SHOT", the fun is in the hunt, not the shot, I choose to take sure shots as not to loose cripples, or wear out the dog. Just because I won't pull on the birds at 30 yds sitting on the lake doesn't mean I can't shoot, it means I'm a sportman.

Rebuttal #4 - direction - Hmm, this one was a bit confusing to me as you obviously were testing the age of that old bottle of "GROG" when you first saw mention of your new killing zone. It's South TO THE East, read the decription. This blog is full of information to help the needy!

Keep checking back for all the latest and greatest, be sure to read the "going global post," and thanks for all the hits.

Muck Bottom Goin' Global...

...well nationwide anyway, or maybe just central flyway, or perhaps midwest, or possibly just nebraska, worst case eastern Nebraska.
Hello again all my technologically advanced and well connected waterfowl enthusiast friends. Thanks for tuning in to Muck Bottom Outfitters Waterfowl report. With the 2009 Duck season mere weeks away, we've decided to try and provide all waterfowlers with the most up to date waterfowl and migration information. So if you're reading this tell every avid waterfowler you know that Muck Bottom is the place to get the "skinny" on the happenings from Ditch to Ditch across the nation. Upon the start of the season, or before if you have something you want to say, jot down our email, or click muckbottom@yahoo.com and email us all you see and hear about the migration, pictures from the day, how you did, or even a tip or two for those of us who are always "over-thinking." There is no sign-up, no account creation, and no "spam", just a good old fashioned email. We won't invade you privacy, have you remember a password or ask the name of your first duck dog for security purposes. Email it and it'll will show up here.
With the advent of blackberry's and i-phone's, posting your emails and updating information can be almost instantaneous. We've all been around the internet trying to find as much info as possible about what's going on here or there. We keep checking on report sections of various websites only to be disappointed that it's been two days since the last report. Our goal is to provide all waterfowlers with as much information as possible from all over the flyways. No update is too long or too short, just get it to us so we can let everyone know. We will have a migration report everyday as long as we get some info from hunters across the country. All of us at Muck Bottom Outfitters are excited to get the reports rolling and to provide some acurate and useful information for your hunt. Or, at least let you know when to call in with "duck fever." We should be able to get the Duck Doctor back on with some permission slips and advice. That's all for now, keep checking back for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.

PS - Don't forget to include your name(first name) or "ditch handle" in the email. We would like full weather (winds, temps, ice, clouds, etc) location, and success on the day. A story or two wouldn't be bad either.

It's on already???

Normally, I would refrain from such childish actions as responding to a comment, but this is our blog, and we always have the last word.

Posted comment:

Waterfowl Wizard said...

"Not so, Good to hear from you again. Had a chance to see your blind about a week ago. To bad I was a half mile away when I saw it. I assume you've had a chance to speak to Dork-Master. Bring a video camera with you this season...You should get plenty of footage if you keep your camera trained toward the East."

The above comment is from a member of the South Ditch and also member of the new South to the East Ditch, apparently he invested in Lasik with bi-focal's. The Bi must mean BInocular cause I've seen him shoot! The new group not only has invaded the bottom's, they've apparently figured out that if you can't beat 'em - join 'em! All those ducks last year led 'em up to the famous MuckBottoms of Tekamah. Right where they've always longed to be... in the same county as RK and the Legends Ditch. It's nice to see you've graduated after 20 years to another county.

In reference to our blind, I've searched for the best possible picture of an interesting spot where ducks land...it isn't all about above or below ground, and apparently not about the amount of cover either. (see picture above). If they want to be there, they will be there. Are you there? Only time will tell. I can tell you this much, blind or no blind, above or below, a bucket and Blaze Orange is sufficient enough with our shooting and calling abilities, but you'll hear that this fall!

Welcome to the bottoms and cya this fall. Wizard...feel free to respond, good luck with that!

Getting Ready

If the video fix deosn't get you going, then get off now and go to marthastewartliving.com .

Hello again all my technologically advanced and well connected waterfowl enthusiast friends.

It's the first weekend in August and less than 30 days away from gathering the old bucket, the gun, the dog and some mosquito repellant and it's off to the marijuana for some good old fashioned Dove hunting. Looks as if the duck season is going to begin on the 10th of October and we are going to be ready. We mowed today for the last time and we've started the water already. Figured we could always turn it off when it's ready rather than second guessing ourselves on when to start. We've spent numerous hours at the ditch since the end of the great snow goose chase. We've built a new sit and shoot, gathered up willows and trees, re-routed the water, installed a 1hp ice-eater and even manged to run some electricity. Barring a grass fire, or bad electical wiring, we have it all ready, hope it's right. Snapped a few picutres today of our final decisions and if it's not right now we are up a "brown" creek with no paddle. As you've read, or perhaps haven't, we decided to pull out of the east and move to the west of the lake to a point that jets out facing SW. The 10 acres of grass has been mowed back to just 2 hoping the birds will have no other choice than to land where we want them. When you have 10 acres of water, it's hard to get 'em belly-up, I think we've got it. If not, I ruined my Home Depot John Deere for nothing. The decoy count has been climbing and we just can't seem to stay out of Cabela's. Put all we got on a measly 2 acres of slick water and the birds should come barrelling in. Or... maybe not! The gatekeeper thinks we are crazy for not mowing the whole thing down, but 10 acres is just to much to navigate. We've never claimed to know it all...just over-think a lot. So we shall see what happens. With the breeding populations up and everyone saying the potholes are full, we should have an exciting season. That's all for now, as always, check back for the latest and greatest...and thanks for all the hits. MBO

Why Wouldn't it Happen This Way

Today, on an unplanned Ditch trip, we pulled up to the lake thinking, boy there is a lot of water left shinning on the lake. You see about 10 days ago we pulled the plug and it didn't seem as if there should be that much water left, it just didn't make sense. We unloaded the ride and headed toward the lake. As we got closer, we realized it wasn't water glistening in the sun! Thouasands of Snow Geese resting in about 2 inches of water and muck. There were tons of ducks and a relatively large amount of Can's sitting there too. It truly looked like a waterfowl reserve. Why wouldn't it be packed when there is hardly any water and deeks in a huge pile in front of the blind. Next year we're going to pull the plug about a week before the season and just decoy the mud and 2 inches of water. WAIT! I said we were never going to do this again. Amazing how a few thousand birds resting on your spot can change your mind. And so it begins again. We've been making regular trips to the ditch, ungun'd and uncamo'd just checking things out as the water receeds. The new sit and shoot should be finished by week's end and we're hoping to start covering it so the native grasses can grow through all spring and summer. I have a feeling that even though the season is over, we will continue to make these weekly trips up there to get the "condo" just right, don't want to be uncomfortable in the fall/winter. Just thought I would give a little report today as to what we saw. Many of you, I'm sure, have experienced what you thought was failure, only to realize you were just not patient enough. Keep checking back for the latest and greatest, and thanks for all the hits.

It's Over For US

Here we are just a few days away from April and we have nothing good to say about the Great Snow Goose chase. All of the rags have been burned, the socks thrown away and the floaters painted black. We had a good time viewing all the sights of the spring and managed to take just one snow, and that was on the sneak. Not a single bunch decoyed and the work just wasn't worth it. We will never do this again! You need way to many deeks to make this work and I'd rather spend the money on Can's and Ducks. Our spring season is over, and boy, talk about conservation, not a single shell fired through the gun, about the only thing wasted was time, but then again, any time spent outside watching and learning isn't really a waste. We are slowly moving around the lake, and laying ground for a new "house" on the lake. Progress has begun and we hope to be done by the time the grass starts growing so as not to disturb the natural look come this fall. We've decided to try a "sit and shoot" style blind and construction is underway. We'll post some pic's as we go along and if you're interested you can check back. Like always, thanks for all the hits, and I'm sure our construction efforts will be worth a good laugh, if you can find the time.

What Month is This??

Hello again all my technologically advanced and well connected Waterfowl enthusiast friends. The cold weather, ice and snow makes a guy wonder just what time of year this is. It's down right cold out there. I haven't heard any real report for today but did observe some great migratory sort of action today. As I peeked out the windows at work, after the snow and ice gave way, there were thousands and thousands, string after string, of migrating snow geese. Only thing was is that they were all heading South. Yes, that's right South. These were not local birds flipping around looking for a new dinner table, these were higher flying strings of migrating Snow Geese heading back South with no apparent stopping point anywhere close to here. I had heard of a snow storm warning in South Dakota and it must have been true based on what I saw today. So here we go again. Time to fire up the horns, oil the guns and set the deeks. Oh wait, we already did that! They'll be coming back as soon as it warms up again which according to forecasts should be this weekend. If you haven't been out yet, now is the time. Get down and get ready. The Ditch will be man'd on Thursday and again hoping for a successful report. I was anxiously waiting for the Legends to report by I haven't seen one yet. Curious to know if they saw all these birds coming back. That's all for now. Check back for the latest and greatest and thanks for all the hits. MBO