Public Praise!

KBell

KBell

New member
Decided to head off today after filling up on turkey and gravy to challenge myself and Sophie. My wife surprised me Friday night with an early Christmas present-new Browning Maxus so you know I had to give it a workout.

Hit the Eagle Lake and Fox WMA public parcels in Hancock county today. I forgot just how big Eagle Lake is but we were up for it.:)

I saw many hunters today. We started in at 8 a.m. with a stiff southwest breeze. It wouldn't last long. I decided with other hunters in the area that Sophie and I would work the edges. We began in the western edge. About 200 yards in Sophie and I began to encounter some marshy areas and cattails. Working her from right to left yielded our first solid point of the morning. Our first rooster flew straight up from release and then turned to head south. I had ample time to aim and follow and then create the lead that dropped him five feet from me. A middle hatchling of this year felt good against the small of my back. The next two flushes were both wild and from the cattails. Older roosters for sure as they sported the tails and deep-throated cackles of experience.

Our next point yielded hens-three to be exact and they flew directly behind us. We had a water break now as I noticed I was sweating and about 500 yards into our journey. We are now on the western side of the lake and I am enjoying the view. So much so that I barely noticed Sophie pointing Daryl and his dog. After a short talk and the usual exchanges, we went on our way. Our next point was still in the cattails and proved to be rooster two of our day. He thought it best to flush from left to right towards the lake. I thought later that he would have had to fly a considerable distance to hit dry land. He fell to the Maxus and was now an observer of our great day.

At the Fox WMA we drove into the heart of it to begin. We left the Eagle Lake as I could see a larger group of eight working the northeastern side towards us and a smaller group of four working the north towards us. Never a good thing to be in the crossfire!:eek: I decided to work the northwest corner. Our first three encounters were deer. A good sign as we were probably the first people in this area today. Sophie working hard now as we moved into some thicker grasses. We had runners as it is now mid-day and warm. I needed a terrain change to corner the birds. We continued northwest and finally had our first point. Hen. Second point. Hen. Third point. Hen. Not hating this I thought as two birds rested in the truck and I am seeing signs of next year. I can see the edge now and I have a creek there. Terrain change I thought. We begin to work the creek edge when I have a wild flush younger bird crossing from right to left. Not my favorite shot but plenty of time to level, lead, and claim our finale of day.

When I returned to the truck I did notice a larger group of six working the southwest section and some other vehicles parked in the area. My point is people were out enjoying the great day today. We spent 6 hours in the field today. Saw 11 roosters and 15 hens.

First two were feeding on soybeans and there was a field on the west. Third bird's crop was empty.


I recommend this shotgun. Very light, sweet to the shoulder and very well machined. I have always loved my Brownings!
 
Last edited:
nice pics and a good read, i hunted the dunbar slew area west of jefferson yesterday, my weim pointed from the road at the ditch and i jumped down in and booted out 7 hens and 5 roosters i poped one. my weim pointed 12 times yesterday morning but only came home with one. i missed alot yesterday:rolleyes: but my one year old weim is starting to get it.
 
Love the pics Kbell! How well do those underarmour sandals hold up in the grinder?:p
 
I always slip sandals on when I am done hunting for two reasons:

I like to let my feet dry--usually wet from moisture or my occasional creek mishap.

Second is my ankles usually need the rest. For whatever reason it aids with my feet!:)
 
Kbell, I have enjoyed reading your posts of your Iowa hunts this year. I enjoyed this post as it seemed like a perfect hunt to me. I love working hard and being rewarded with a few opportunities. Seems good to me. I look forward to reading more. Iowa hunting holds a special place to me. It was the closest decent hunting to me and I used to take birds in the southern counties with regularity. Often my wife didn't even know I went.:p. I could be hunting in 2.5 hrs.
 
Thank you!

Carptom1,

Appreciate your kind words. I have been doing well this year but birds are spotty and I have as many misses as hits when it comes to bagging birds. I think our hunting pressure is definitely on the uptick as I am seeing more and more hunters each week. Deer hunting this weekend so I will be resting. If I get out during the week I will be sure to post.

Sorry you Kansas folks have been experiencing what we already are. With the exception of some public grounds northwest and private--bird hunting is spotty at best. It is very easy to go out and walk decent cover and never see a bird! I still have a difficult time with that but it has happened much this year.

Ken
 
Kbell, I am with you on the sandals. I ws just razzing. I were crocs.:)
 
No problem mstand,

I can take some razzing--I have been a college professor for 27 years now! I just show my age at times!:)
 
I use to hunt ducks there. Some of the locals thought they owned the whole thing:( Took the fun out of it. Duck hunters are an angry bunch:D
 
You will love the Maxus. I really like mine except I bought a camo version in the case I did not like it (would be easier to sell in East TN to duck hunters). Mine is very ugly compared to yours.
 
scheels in des moines has a maxus maple in stock. dont know if any of you have ever seen a maple gun, they are quite a site and the one at shceels has some real nice maple on it. if i had the funds it would be in my home.
 
I love those kind of xmas presents!!!!!!!!!! One thing I hate for xmas is tools to work with they go over the shoulder with a thanks awesome looking browning!! does your wife have a sister :D
 
My then 14 year old son, worked his butt off detasseling and saved up for his Maxus. He loves this gun. look at it cross eyed and you will get a tongue lashing. Thought he was about to cry the day he got a scratch on it while duck hunting. Strange thing, the relationship between a boy and his Browning. :p

I have a Browning 20gauge Citori that I love. But I have beat it up pretty good. I use it for dog training and hunting. I tried for about a month to keep it looking shinny and new. I am pretty sure if I showed you guys a picture of it now I would be kicked off the site.:( But I love this gun, his name is Gus, and I will always own a citori.
 
That is good to hear Mstand!:)

I have a featherlight browning 20 gauge that I enjoy and am learning to make room in my heart for the Maxus.

Recovering from three days of deer hunting in Northwest Iowa. I worked in some birds on Saturday as well! I am glad I did. It was very cold out there today with the wind. My Crown and Coke only lessens the pain. Muscles and legs got a workout!:p

I love all the Brownings I have owned.

Ken
 
How was the deer hunt?

I love y time in my treestand. Hubby and I are bow hunters. But,bird hunting is quickly taking that over. I feel more proactive when bird hunting. Much like the difference between people who are content to play the slot machines and those that play the tables. At the tables you atleast have the illusion that you have some control over your fate.;)

heading out again tomorrow. Was suppose to go today, but I get nervous with snow and icy roads. I just know that I need to get my hunting in. Jim is getting the icehole itch. I am surprised I hae kept him off of the hard water for as long as I have..........my bird hunts are numbered.
 
I have had tons of luck in the central part of the state on public land this year. I Shot two more ringnecks and my friend shot one on Sunday during the snowstorm. Don't know how to share pics on here or else I would share from my last two excursions.

My dog has really turned the corner this year. I cannot believe how much she has progressed from year two to year three. Gratifying!

And on the Browning topic - I own a 1974 A5 Magnum Auto - made in Belgium. Love, love, love that gun. Only hunt upland with it though or else if duck hunting out of boat. Will not take it duck hunting during walk in hunts. It weighs about 20 lbs when it is loaded and kills my shoulders, but I have never shot a smoother shooting gun than that baby. College graduation gift from my father in law - who wasn't my father in law at the time. It is the old friction ring system so if you want to shoot 3" you have to change out the brake and friction rings. That's the only downside, but it is a beautiful gun.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top