3 in the North

Bill & I shot 3 in the North. The morning was very slow, could have shot some teal but due to how quick they dart in and out I said I wouldnt shoot them unless they were on the water. Then we had a group of about 12 dive bomb us which we didnt shoot at until one came back around and landed on the water. Bammo, done! From there we had a single Drake Mallard work the pond came over 35 yards, one shot Bammo got'em. The next drake was all Bills as he was very ancious to warm up his barrel, true to form,,, bammo toast. The next drake came over us 40 yards flying very fast,,, I doubled up my lead, bammo toast. Intersting to note it was a single pellet under the chin that brought him down and no other pellet marks were any where on the bird.

3 Drake Mallards and one Drake Greenwing Teal.

We did not pass up any Mallards we shold have had.

Opening Day 2, 04

On this morning I am to hunt alone, durring the draw I selected Discovery which is at the North West side of the club. I was actually at a place called New discovery which is slightly south west of Discovery.

The area I wanted to shoot had no cover so I had to settle for a clump of bent over Bull Toolies. It was a slow morning realative to yesterday but I knew I could get a few birds here.

Finaly 3 came in, feet down ready to land and with my over and under I took two shots and downed both drakes. While walking out to get the birds I had to dart back into the toolies cause another single was comming in to land with a pair 50 yards behind him. I let him land right next to me in the pond and continue to call the pair in. When the Drake "in the air" was 20 yards out bammo, I had him, then I turn on the bird that was taking off of the pond bammo, I got him. 10 minutes had gone by and I had 80% of my mallard limit. But no banded birds???

1 hour later in came a very none comital drake, he would not approach me straight on, always off to the side. On his 3 pass I took him, first shot was a miss, the 2nd shot was a wing shot and he came down very very alive. I ran over to were he went down in the layed down toolies and found a whole with blood and feather all around but the feathers were a hens? Damit, I shot a hen,,, I started lifting up toolies to look under them up found nothing. Then I though I need to go at this systemactically, row by row. 10 minutes into this search I sae it swimming 5 feet away from me. I had already layed my gun down so I through my body in the air like a sky diver, splat... Did i have it was it under me,,, no, then I felt my upper right hand move. I looked up and sure enough My hand was on the broken wind,,, gottoem. After doing the neck thing I held him up and saw that it was a young imature drake. "young drakes always have feathers that look like hens". I held him up to inspect the feet and there was my reward,,, a band. Getting my self wet and muddy was well worth this.

A perfect 5 drake mallard limit, I was the first hunter in.

Opening day 04

October 30, 04

This day couldnt have come any quicker, the excitement and energy was something any on looker could feel.

We shot the south east center of the club at a place called Smith Special. I was there with my father Bill and friend Joe who was an associate shooter this year. With two boats to hid and 4 dozen decoys to place we were pressed for time,,, or so we thought. After decoys were set and boat hidden we gathered at the one blind in the pond, seven minutes to go and there were Mallards all around us, groups of 5, 10 and too many pair to count. Birds were trying to land in our decoys. Wings wistled over our heads 10 feet above us and many were ploping in the water around us. For a few minutes we watched in awe as this was month nature at her finest... Bill ask "time check"Joe "2 more minute", Bill "ok lets get settle, Joe you take the blind and Kevin you go over there. Over there meant find a fitting place to hide your self so the birds could see you. Now, these Tooles are 12 footers so ya have to do some house cleaning before you can see anything and if the birds flar you know it by a toung lashing from Bill from across the pond...

The first pair that come in splits apart, the drake dives right into the pond and lands next to Joe but he cant see this because he has a 8 foot hight beaver dam between he and the bird on the water. The drake on the water quacks keeping his gal well aware of where he is and she does a final approach just over Joe at 10 feet,,, Bammo "she done" the drake takes off the water and I bammo, put him to sleep.

The next is a group of 3 birds, they past one, twice and on the 3rd go round I say shoot them to Joe. Joe gets green and Bill gets green. The last bird was a hen and was not shot at.

About 45 minute have gone by and serval pairs and groups have gone over Joe with out a shot fired. "Why arent you shooting at those birds that are coming right over you" Joe say he cant really seen them till they are right on top of him so he and I switch position, Sun is barly up now.
I'm in the blind now a group of two come right over the top of me "very shootable" but I let them go to Joe and Bill since is see 3 more following them in close be hind. By the time Bill and Joe start shooting my bird are right over me and I take one shot down she comes,,, yup it a hen! Looking into the sun plays tricks on you sometimes thought it was a drake.

Several more birds give up to us but the most memoral moment I had was of a single drake mallard flighing over head at 20 yards. I take one shot and the bird freezes in mid air and slowly fell out of the sky,,, head shot.

At the end of the day we had 13 Green and 2 hen, its was another great opener shoot.http://greenhead2004