A nice waterfowl evening

[Big Fin]

I don't ever remember shooting a limit of mallards under such beautiful conditions as this evening. Hell, I don't remember shooting a limit of anything under an evening like tonight.

A friend invited a couple of us out to his ponds, stating the little bit of cold had pushed some mallards down. I thought that strange and mostly intended to enjoy some good visiting while watching the sun reflect off the calm waters.

Took about an hour and a half, but those birds wanted to come to this pond. Three of us shot 20 greenheads and 1 drake pintail. My shotgunning was a little rusty, but after the first bird escaped me, things got back on track.

Not sure how you spend a more pleasurable evening than what I had this evening.

Good friends, good dogs, and great shooting. About as good as it gets. And for once, No video cameras.

Good ammo makes me a better shot than I really am.


Something about dogs retrieving that makes it all worth while.


While pulling the decoys, I looked up and wished it would be like this again some other day. They really wanted to land here.


A fellow DU committee chairman enjoying this as much as I did.


"Escorted" these ducks to the shop where they are now hanging to be finished off and made to snack food tomorrow. First hunt with the new Escort shotguns I was sent. All systems, "Go."

 

[AZ402]

Looks like fun!

 

[Oak]

Nice job, Randy. Must be nice to get out without a camera every once in a while.

 

[Ultrahunter]

Looks like fun

 

[noharleyyet]

...and now a word from our sponsors.

I like that shotgun Fin.

 

[Spitz]

Nice photos Fin!

How will those shotguns work on deer in Iowa? I've got a spot figured out . . .

 

[Gerald Martin]

Looks like fun! I worked again this evening....

 

[NVLongbow]

I addition to the Escort, using Federal Black Cloud ammo didn't hurt much either.

Calvin (my 17 year old) dropped a big old turkey size rooster sage grouse this weekend at 80 yards. He was using the Federal Prairie Storm ammo.

It's a little spendy but I am sold on Federal. The cost of ammo is a small fraction of what we spend on the rest of the trip.

 

[1_pointer]

Very nice! I really ought to get into waterfowl hunting. Lots of birds in these parts...

I'm digging the camo pattern of that coat. Might just be the ticket for the Midwest.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

Very nice! I really ought to get into waterfowl hunting. Lots of birds in these parts...

I'm digging the camo pattern of that coat. Might just be the ticket for the Midwest.

very nice.
1pointer, how far are you from Montgomery county, I forgot. My best friend and I have some great hunting and tons of dekes and blinds. be warned. . .its addicting!!!

 

[Nemont]

Nice work,

Nemont

 

[mtmiller]

Where is the mud, sweat and water logged clothes? Gentlemen's duck hunt? Good hunt fellas.

 

[stillkickin]

Glad to see the smile on Merle's face! Looks like you both needed a working vacation.....

 

[justdada]

Very cool Fin, thanks for sharing. Watching greenheads drop in on cupped wings always gets my adrenaline going.

 

[putm2sleep]

Great evening indeed - you know you are in 'em, when you are just picking out the greenheads!
How do you like that Sitka Waterfowl gear?

 

[Big Fin]

How do you like that Sitka Waterfowl gear?

This was the first run with it. The blind was so good, I probably could have worn my blaze orange vest and still shot a limit.

I do like the pattern, but like all Sitka gear, I am more impressed with the functionality and thought that went into the design. Very quite and high quality fabric/material. Lots of cool features that I have not seen on other waterfowl gear.

Sitka's mountain hunting clothing line is fit very close to the stated sizes. The waterfowl gear is fit more generously, allowing for lots of layers and allows you to swing your gun to all directions with no constriction.

Where is the mud, sweat and water logged clothes? Gentlemen's duck hunt? Good hunt fellas.

I admit, Miller, I almost felt embarrased to only have to wade 150 yards and was allowed to sit in a dry blind with bench seats. In some respects, it almost felt like cheating, but I will take one of those kind of hunts every 47 years, or once a year, if the planets again aligned with such a rare explosion of early birds, and an invitation to join in.

Not sure it would be the proper place to take a young waterfowler out on a hunt like that, as the luxury and immense number of suicidal birds would create expections that are too soft for normal waterfowling.

 

[Duck-Slayer]

hey now that your a big shot, I'm sure you can find at least one hunt like that every year, I know if you wanna shoot something in Idaho, you have an open invitation... like the name says.....
Matt

 

[nbell]

Nice pics. Looks like a perfect evening.

 

[What Map]

Fin,

Good to see you back in the field. That's a very good hunt for this early in season. It may be a very early migration this year, but I don't know why.

I have been having pretty good luck with the Heavy Metal shotgun shells.

Although I wrote a very positive thread about my new left handed 3.5 inch Escort, it is now back being repaired. The bolt broke and locked shut. I have been waiting for over 2 months for a new one to show up to repair my gun. Just thought I would let you all know.

 

[yellowdog]

Not sure it would be the proper place to take a young waterfowler out on a hunt like that, as the luxury and immense number of suicidal birds would create expections that are too soft for normal waterfowling.

what do you mean... Its a great place to take a young waterfowler for his first duck hunt and Greenhead kill

The key is to get invited back!

YD