Good start, Doc. What kind of ducks did you bag?

 

Sounds like a great opening weekend. This will be the first time in 17 years for the marsh for me, got two more weekends to wait. I am still trying to gather gear and to get it at least somewhat functional. To old and slow to launch the boat on opening weekend @ Point Mouillee, probably get a few 30 & 40 something whippersnapper duck hunters perturbed @ 4:30 in the morning. Going to a chain lake system at a river mouth to see if I can get a couple of woodies to come sit in the dekes. I haven't shot at a duck in 17 years and my timing is probably 5' behind. Going to use some Win 3" 1.25 oz 4s from a flat left over from the '90s.

 

Good start, Doc. What kind of ducks did you bag?

Cinnamon Teal and Mallards!

 

Good start, Doc. What kind of ducks did you bag?

Cinnamon Teal and Mallards!

Mmmm! I love wild duck and those are tasty ones.

 

Sounds like a great opening weekend. This will be the first time in 17 years for the marsh for me, got two more weekends to wait. I am still trying to gather gear and to get it at least somewhat functional. To old and slow to launch the boat on opening weekend @ Point Mouillee, probably get a few 30 & 40 something whippersnapper duck hunters perturbed @ 4:30 in the morning. Going to a chain lake system at a river mouth to see if I can get a couple of woodies to come sit in the dekes. I haven't shot at a duck in 17 years and my timing is probably 5' behind. Going to use some Win 3" 1.25 oz 4s from a flat left over from the '90s.

Give 'em hell, OHP. Hope the wood ducks cooperate.

 

Five bucks a box for hevi shot??? NICE

 

Went again yesterday.
4 ducks. Did not see a single mallard until a half hour after quitting time.
My supply of HeviShot is running out.
I'll have to go back to Steel. What is a very good steel shell?

 

...I'll have to go back to Steel. What is a very good steel shell?

Well, that ought to start something....

Dr. Duk -- I've been using Kent Fasteel (2.75" shell with 1.25 oz of #3 @ 1300fps) for the last 2 years in my Cordoba. It patterns well in my gun and recoil is minimal. My shots are usually under 40 yards, and some are much closer to 20 yards. At these distances, steel works fine for me.

 

Can hardly do any better than Remington Nitro Steel, although I use its cheaper cousin, Sportsman Steel most of the time.

 

Shot 6 ducks yesterday. Lost a mallard.
My dog found it, but it flushed and flew too low to shoot again as my lab was chasing it!

 

As far as steel shot to use, I really like a 3", 1.25 ounce load of 12 gauge steel at around 1400 feet per second. I have been shooting Federal blue box, Federal red box, and Rio's in #2's, 3's, and BB's. If I shoot #4's or #6's, I use 2 3/4" shells. Rogers is a good place to buy steel online.

 

Took my Dad's old gun I bought for him in 1966.
Hadn't shot it in about 25 years. Still works great

IMG_1126 by Patty Mjos, on Flickr

 

I like the picture. Looks like your dog is saying "let's go get some more".
Our season opens on November 11, I'm getting anxious.

 

Glad to see the valley is treating you well. I used to hunt sown there in the late 80s and early 90s. Late in the season we could limit on mallards and canadas. I can't remember the mallard limit but 1 hen and your day would be done.

 

Glad to see the valley is treating you well. I used to hunt sown there in the late 80s and early 90s. Late in the season we could limit on mallards and canadas. I can't remember the mallard limit but 1 hen and your day would be done.

That was in the 90s and the point system. 1 hen was 100 points and day over!

 

Ithaca 37 16 gauge plus #4 bismuth 1oz handloads = 1 goose and 3 mallards. Not a limit but at 72 years old I just don't care about limits anymore. Me and the 10 year old lab just keep on keeping. He can still swim and I can still shoot and call so life is good.

 

Ithaca 37 16 gauge plus #4 bismuth 1oz handloads = 1 goose and 3 mallards. Not a limit but at 72 years old I just don't care about limits anymore. Me and the 10 year old lab just keep on keeping. He can still swim and I can still shoot and call so life is good.

My lab is good company in the duck blind!

 

Shot 5 ducks yesterday, 2 mallards (1 banded ) 3 gadwall.
Today only 3, 1 mallard, 2 gadwall.
Big upgrade over teal and spoonies :lol:

 

IMG_1135 by Patty Mjos, on Flickr

IMG_1136 by Patty Mjos, on Flickr

A happy dog and hunter!

 

Where was your Mal banded? Do you know yet?

 

Where was your Mal banded? Do you know yet?

This years hatch. Banded Aug 25 in the refuge where I shot him on Oct 25

 

Geese are here!! Shot a limit last Friday in 15 minutes.
Stayed to watch the show. 1000s of geese. Flocks landed in decoys and stayed for over an hour.
Shot over 100 geese this weekend on our lease!
These are the good old days!

 

Goose season is winding down. One more week.
Best season I've EVER had. Shot another limit yesterday.
After hunting, we watched 500 geese land in the decoys. It was an awesome sight.
Will post a video later, if I can.

 

can't post video
Large flock landing to the hundreds on the ground.

IMG_1199 by Patty Mjos, on Flickr

 

Video, click on it. Awesome!!

IMG_3748 by Patty Mjos, on Flickr