I had to work today until 10am, got out to the hunting area around noon. Last weeks snow has most of the ditches blown shut but the one's where good heavy cover remains tend to hold birds. The first spot has produced before and again today it held birds. It's a nice cattail infested corner ditch, Kepa and I caught them in a pretty good spot for us and I went 2 shots 2 roosters down. Hunting alone and not wanting to be done so quickly I let a third one go without a shot. After a couple of retrieves Kepa hunted through the cattails one more time, no birds left to roust up.
We made our way a few miles and came upon a farm where we had asked permission opening weekend. We were denied permission then because the lady had her boys going out later that day and a group coming from Michigan to hunt later on in the week to hunt. Anyway she remembered me as I asked today and she said sure go ahead. I told her I only needed one and she wished me good luck!
The draw they have is a really nice looking thick and wide with corn on one side. Kepa and I got into tracks and scent early on and less than 100 yards in the first wild flushes were happening another 100 yards ahead. Kepa stayed cool and in range while we worked our way forward. Another 50 yards and 3 hens and 1 rooster flushed in range. I was on today and 1 shot was all I needed for this, the last one today.
I stopped back to say Thanks to the lady land owner and she relayed that their group of friends that came from Michigan did really well that week and limited out each day. More birds seen this year and in the past 10 years or so.
Kepa and I will be back at it tomorrow, if all goes well we may make the drive way up north and chase some cattail roosters.
Happy New Years Everyone!!!!!!!
We made our way a few miles and came upon a farm where we had asked permission opening weekend. We were denied permission then because the lady had her boys going out later that day and a group coming from Michigan to hunt later on in the week to hunt. Anyway she remembered me as I asked today and she said sure go ahead. I told her I only needed one and she wished me good luck!
The draw they have is a really nice looking thick and wide with corn on one side. Kepa and I got into tracks and scent early on and less than 100 yards in the first wild flushes were happening another 100 yards ahead. Kepa stayed cool and in range while we worked our way forward. Another 50 yards and 3 hens and 1 rooster flushed in range. I was on today and 1 shot was all I needed for this, the last one today.
I stopped back to say Thanks to the lady land owner and she relayed that their group of friends that came from Michigan did really well that week and limited out each day. More birds seen this year and in the past 10 years or so.
Kepa and I will be back at it tomorrow, if all goes well we may make the drive way up north and chase some cattail roosters.
Happy New Years Everyone!!!!!!!