carptom1
Well-known member
Sitting here watching MNF after spending a few days hunting in the cold and snow of South Dakota. Thought I would share a few observations of my annual December trip.
# 1 The bird numbers are certainly down in the area I hunt. Typically we would see at least one flush in the 2-300 range. The largest I saw was a 75 bird flush from a tree belt. I did see several hundred in an area we no longer can hunt. He had grain piles out and the birds and deer were thick in his trees. We worked hard for our birds and only limited on one day out of three. We had a real tough day on Saturday in 5 degree weather and a stiff wind. Six of us ended up with 8 birds in some real tough conditions. We should have had more but it is tough to shoot bundled up like that. We averaged like 2.3 birds per guy.
#2 I do not like hunting in the cold and snow like I used to. Snowed on all three days, the ends of fields were drifted in bad. I am too fat to walk cattails that are not yet frozen. One tree belt had 3 + foot drifts already. Farmer said he was a few inches from shutting it down as his food plots were starting to fill up with snow. He has a group of 5 coming in this weekend and based on the weather they will have a tough go. Even knowing what I know I would go again in a minute.
#3 I have to get in better shape as I have let myself go a bit. It affects my shooting and my ability to hunt like I would like. Quit talking and get busy.
All and all a great trip. Watching Patrick's (PTM) old lab sniff that wounded rooster out was pretty cool. She was determined she had it pegged deep in that snow and finally was rewarded. I love watching Labs in the cattails and snow. It is a shame I don't get to go more often. Seems they hat a stride about the middle of the second day and then it is over too soon. Sunday I had an epic day. Walked the edge of some waist high cattails and watched my Lab put up 10 or so birds including several roosters. I managed a limit in fairly short order of about 45 minutes or so. Nice to walk the edge while he did the work. Also finished with several nice retrieves. Again the company was good, the food was decent and the Super 8 was, well a super 8. Thanks to Patrick for a few of the pictures I am sharing. Hopefully he doesn't mind.
PS. My dog did catch a hen and was wanting to kill her real bad. I was able to coax her away from him and release her as he only had the tail feathers. I was grateful as I was going to hate turning him in to the local Conservation Officer.
A few pics
# 1 The bird numbers are certainly down in the area I hunt. Typically we would see at least one flush in the 2-300 range. The largest I saw was a 75 bird flush from a tree belt. I did see several hundred in an area we no longer can hunt. He had grain piles out and the birds and deer were thick in his trees. We worked hard for our birds and only limited on one day out of three. We had a real tough day on Saturday in 5 degree weather and a stiff wind. Six of us ended up with 8 birds in some real tough conditions. We should have had more but it is tough to shoot bundled up like that. We averaged like 2.3 birds per guy.
#2 I do not like hunting in the cold and snow like I used to. Snowed on all three days, the ends of fields were drifted in bad. I am too fat to walk cattails that are not yet frozen. One tree belt had 3 + foot drifts already. Farmer said he was a few inches from shutting it down as his food plots were starting to fill up with snow. He has a group of 5 coming in this weekend and based on the weather they will have a tough go. Even knowing what I know I would go again in a minute.
#3 I have to get in better shape as I have let myself go a bit. It affects my shooting and my ability to hunt like I would like. Quit talking and get busy.
All and all a great trip. Watching Patrick's (PTM) old lab sniff that wounded rooster out was pretty cool. She was determined she had it pegged deep in that snow and finally was rewarded. I love watching Labs in the cattails and snow. It is a shame I don't get to go more often. Seems they hat a stride about the middle of the second day and then it is over too soon. Sunday I had an epic day. Walked the edge of some waist high cattails and watched my Lab put up 10 or so birds including several roosters. I managed a limit in fairly short order of about 45 minutes or so. Nice to walk the edge while he did the work. Also finished with several nice retrieves. Again the company was good, the food was decent and the Super 8 was, well a super 8. Thanks to Patrick for a few of the pictures I am sharing. Hopefully he doesn't mind.
PS. My dog did catch a hen and was wanting to kill her real bad. I was able to coax her away from him and release her as he only had the tail feathers. I was grateful as I was going to hate turning him in to the local Conservation Officer.
A few pics
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