Ducks

B

bones

New member
Hunted 11 Mile yesterday, was amazed at the number of birds as well as the number of idiots. Managed three teal out of two flights and one wigeon (my favorite bird) that came in as a single. My buddy bagged four one mallard and he tripled on one of the flights of teal. Someone needs to educate folks about sky busting, setting up too close, and shooting birds working someone elses rig. My usual ploy when someone sets up too close is to invite them to hunt with me, but the guys that did that yesterday were not anyone I would want near me EVER!!! Hope this is not a prelude to Phez season.

Speaking of Phez season, I'll be heading to Kansas for the opener. My gunner from Iraq back in 03, is my best huntig buddy ( the guy with weimereiner sp?). We've hunted together since he was a Private, almost 13 years now. Anyway he has some property out there around Cedar Bluffs campground. There will be eight of us and six dogs. I'm super pumped up. Bought three boxes of #5s, a box of 3" #5s, and some high brass #7 1/2s in case there are some quail, which I'm told there are :D. Almost picked up some #4s but figured that would be a little much for early season.To me Phez are like ducks you can't over kill them, well unless they flush within 10 yds.


Have a Good 'Urn,
bones
 
Glad to hear you got into some birds. Looking forward to waterfowl sseason myself, but I always start after the big game seasons are done. Too bad we're riding out a pretty bad drought with terrible water conditions in the southest, its supposed to be a pretty amazing fall flight this year and we've go no water to hold em' :(
 
Yeh, did'nt expect to see all the birds we did. Really expected to see more resident geese than anything else. Might be good for a week day hunt around 11 Mile, but that was my last trip up there on a weekend.

Very interested to see what it is like around Pueblo when the season comes in down there. My buddy has a spot down there that is supposed to be awesome with little pressure; just enough to keep 'em moving. Actually I'll need a partner for the opener, I have a canoe and about 6 dozen decoys if anyone wants in.


Have a Good 'Urn,
bones
 
Bones, welcome to public land hunting!! Jumbo is the same way now!!! Pueblo will be better if you travel away from the parking lots!! I have had to wait until dark out there until the wind died down enough to safely get back to the dock!!! 4 foot whitecaps in about 15 minutes late in the year is no fun in a small boat!!!! Duck hunting was great!!!!
 
I've been spoiled, when I was at Ft. Hood, lots of ducks no duck hunters. Put my dekes out at 0500. Shooting birds by 0700 home by 0830 with a limit. A rough day would find us jump shooting stock ponds and home by 1000. Also a real mixed bag, had the chance at every North American duck, except sea ducks, and cinnamon teal. We shot tree ducks one warm season and black ducks in 98 when the temps were arctic like, well at least for Texas.

Public land here is still better than the land around Ft. Knox. I really should'nt complain, plenty of room if we had scouted at least a day ahead of time. Knox was bad, that place reminded me of the old trout openers in Va. Shoulder to Shoulder up and down the banks. If the shots were'nt high you'd go home or the hospital with #4s in your face. And no birds; too far out of the flyway.

The spot my buddy has down in Pueblo is supposed to be custom made for my style of duck hunting, we'll see. He won't quit talking about it so its gotta be at least descent gunning. Offer is still out for anyone that wants to meet up.



Have a Good 'Urn,
bones
 
Fantastic Duck season so far

Been out hunting the southern mountain zone, took 3nephews out for youth day. The kiddos did well, missed a bunch and still got plenty of birds. Myself, I hit opening weekend on DOW land then a couple more days on friends property. between them, I got 2 days of Mallard limits, and 1 day mixed limit, been eating a lot of duck :cheers:. opener on public land had the neighbors sky busting problem, got my limit but had to make some tough shots since the birds didn't get a chance to circle very long until some jack*** would take a shot at them or at another group way out of range. The next day I was skunked since I just called them in for my nephew to shoot at and could watch for other hunters. So havnt been back to public land since, and started to hunt my buddies ranch. there is NOTHING like decoying greenheads. I will go back to my public spots this weekend, everyone is up elk hunting and will leave the ponds to my dog and I. Elk hunting is for December anyway, after the ponds freeze. Gotta prioritize, dog gets all the chances he can before I change over to The rifle :thumbsup:
 
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Public land waterfowl hunting in Colorado can be an adventure. I have seen it all. The sky busting is always a problem and setting up to close is big on SWA.

I have also seen where guys go out and they don't have a dog (they use a fishing pole) or their dog won't go in the water to retrieve the duck. They then ask you if you can get your dog (mine) to get their ducks or I have seen guys throw shotgun shells (because they don't have rocks) at the duck in the water to get the dog to retrieve the duck.

I have also been asked by DOW one time to help them find a duck that some guys had shot (while the DOW were watching them from afar) and they didn't make any attempt to try and locate it. I have both my dogs out looking and couldn't find it. We did find a speckled belly goose that was crippled and the DOW said I could keep it.

I have such disdain for waterfowl hunters who 1) sky bust 2) set up to close 3) don't have a dog 4) because they don't have a dog they don't make any attempt to find the ducks that they have shot they don't land right in front of them.

I haven't made it out this year yet, but I will. My son had broken his wrist and dislocated his right elbow right before the youth opener on the front range. I really want to get get him out for the first time duck hunting. He pheasant hunted for the frist time last year with me however I want to expose him to duck hunting.

We are all set for our usual pheasant hunt this year, however I am gong to try and get him out for duck hunting at least once before it gets to cold.

Greg
 
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