Wood Duck Double!!!

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

I almost did not go out this morning but my friend Derl talked me into it so I decided to go. I met Derl at 5:30 dark and by six we were at the boat ramp. There already was a truck parked in the lot so we knew we did not have the pond to our selves.
Now to hope he did not take our spot from the weekend before but of course he did. I'll back track a bit.
Derl and I went to the same pond last weekend and the same truck was in the lot. When we made it to the pond he was all set up in the southwest end of the pond and we took the east side closer to the tree line. Well as soon as the pond woke up we had wood ducks and teals all over the place. It was too bad we could not hit the side of a barn so all we had to show for all that shooting was a green wing teal and a female wood duck. I nearly shot two boxes and all I got was the teal.
I know we sucked but to my defense it was my first time shooting sitting on my butt. But I had a blast and now I'm hooked.
Ok, now back to today. This morning the other hunters took the east side of the pond so what did we do you ask?? Well we also took the east side of the pond but we set up between the tree line and the other hunters. I bet they didn't think about that.
This morning it was foggy as all heck so we knew we better keep our ears open and our heads on a swivel. By around a quarter to seven Dearl whispers 'duck" and the first pair was out of the woods. You guys know on a two man boat each hunter can only shot in a certain direction. Well this ducks came from over my left shoulder and they were moving. Up went the Trojan and two quick misses. About five minutes later here comes the second pair and another two misses. Now is closer to seven and it's getting foggier. Not much action compared to last weekend. Now I'm thinking maybe I should have stayed home. And just when I'm about to start day dreaming Derr whispers "Ducks"!! Again over my left shoulder and CLIMBING. By the time I get my gun up they are straight over us at the 12 o'clock position. Pull the front trigger a clean miss. I knew I rushed it. Move my finger to the rear trigger I focused on one bird, managed to get a lead and pull the back trigger "boom" and to my amazement they both folded up and dropped to the water.
My first double on anything and it came on a true pair, a pair of wood duck!!
I was so excited and happy for my Trojan. Silly right?? Well I like to think my 20ga Trojan with the 30 inch bbls was made for duck shooting. She came out of Fresno California and I like to think Capt. duBray ordered it for someone in one of the west coast hunting clubs.
Anyway..After I shot the pair it got real slow so Derl decided to use his wood duck call. No sooner had he put the call away and here came a woodie out of the fog. Derl picked up his 20ga Remington and bam one quick shot and down went the woodie about forty yards away.
After that we just sat in the boat till 8 and wrapped it up, we were done. The other hunters?? They took one shot.
Now it was time to get the decoys and pick up the down birds. We got over to where the pair fell and noticed that something had plucked the back of the hen. Weird!! Got to the drake and thank God it was in good condition.
When over to pick up his duck and something was very wrong. Like a horror movie wrong. Wait till you see the picture.
And that was my second duck hunt ever. I'm glad I decided to go. Now to get in touch with Mary about my double pin. God I hope is not my last one!!

[C grade]

Duck hunting is an addiction just like Parkers!! I think you now have both.
David

[Bindlestiff]

Originally Posted by Angel Cruz

Now it was time to get the decoys and pick up the down birds. We got over to where the pair fell and noticed that something had plucked the back of the hen. Weird!! Got to the drake and thank God it was in good condition.
When over to pick up his duck and something was very wrong. Like a horror movie wrong. Wait till you see the picture.

OK, this sounds like a movie teaser...... Piranhas? So, what happened?

[Wild Skies]

Congratulations on the double, Angel!

20-ga. 30" Trojans must be few and far between, eh? What's it choked?

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

Thanks Greg, she's got full chokes.
Robin, we don't know what happened. It had a head when it hit the water. Maybe a snapper??

[Brush Buster]

Good Shooting Angel ,Congrats on the Double ! Great Photos , a 30 Inch 20 Ga. Trojan There's the Old Saying Rare as Hens Teeth !

[Dollar]

Angel congrats on the double.Now you can have a real vice to learn to live with.Always waiting on duck season and wondering how they go by so fast.
Missed you on the dove fields you should try and get over on 3rd phase.
We went out this morning on the Big O.Had our limits in about an hour of teal and ringers.Like you it took us about a box each to settle down and start knocking them down.
Oh yeah all turtles will eat the heads and whatever else they can get.And don't forget about them gators.They are always looking for a happy meal.

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

You ain't kidding Bob. I'm already thinking about next weekend. I will call you during the week and check on the 3rd phase.

[Dollar]

Good deal looking forward to it

[Mike Franzen]

Great story and pics Angel. What loads were you shooting?