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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 10:26 pm |
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Mista Kaas made a shoot with the madmen over in Canada this past Thurday. Another poor soul has been given their Mitchell's Bay Baptism. Getting cold up here, below freezing part of the day with high winds. We spent a pleasant evening at the duck shack on Wednesday then it was up early to head for the lake. Wind was stiff as we went out and kept building till late morning. We took the sneak boat out but just set the cover boat rig to start with. The ducks were weedline shy, giving us the high hat and only coming in as singles. We still managed a few, with a couple crushing misses by yours truly. Decided to set the sneak boat rig and see if we couldn't do better with that. Of course about the time the last of the blocks were out the divers quit flying and we had to wait till late afternoon to get any amount of shooting. Again I wasn't on my game and missed a big drake canvasback at about 10 yards on one sneak. But did manage to redeem myself killing a double on the last sneak of the day. We started picking up just at sunset, 200 decoys, and were at it for quite awhile. Jim and I picked up the sneaking rig while Mista Kaas assisted Nathan with the cover boat spread. We ended the day with 14 birds, so not a bad trip but hard work for all hands. Quit with nine canvasback, one redhead, two ringnecks, a bufflehead, and a fabulous mistake shot on a redbreasted merganser hen by your faithful reporter.
Don had to be back in Philly this afternoon so he left us early this morning. Nathan, Jim, and I headed back out to the lake for another round of sneak shooting. It had turned colder in the night so there was ice in the marina and boat channel to deal with, then the side bay that we intended to hunt was frozen over so we had to swap to the other shore to get into some clear water. We'd seen a lot of birds moving down that side on Thursday and figured we'd do well enough over there. We pushed out a couple good sized rafts of canvasback going in and were excited. Wind was blowing but not too bad. We got the sneak rig set in record time and started making sneaks just as soon as we were set. We'd made about half a dozen, bagging some prime canvasback, when the wind started up again harder than it had blown on Thursday. We'd set the cover boat out in the open water to use as a base of operations. We take turns making sneaks, one man paddling and one man shooting so you've got to have somewhere for the off man to sit. Ended up using it as much as a wind break for the guys sitting in the sneak boat as a place to wait our turns.
Whitecaps were busting over the screen on the sneak boat and giving us all a good drenching. Going out on a sneak was great, the high wind pushed the boat like the motor was running and you got down on the ducks quick as lightening. Coming back to the cover boat against the wind was a little different story. The waves literally crashed over the screen, we had to pump the water out about every other sneak. But whoever built that old wooden boat knew their business, she rides like a battleship and we never even had a tense moment.
The cover boat was taking such a beating that the front anchor rope broke twice. We were all soaked despite wearing out best wet weather gear. My old DHE had water running out of every orifice, but she never missed a beat and killed every bird for me. The sneak boat and decoys were coated in ice, I even had ice on my gunbarrels a couple times
We all shot well despite the heavy weather. Only lost one cripple, which was sad, but does happen when you're gunning diving ducks despite your best efforts.
We had our birds by 10:30, was truly a great day. Though I assume anybody that reads this will figure we're all insane. I finished up my limit with a canvasback, four redheads, and a broadbill. Jim and Nathan had all canvasback and redheads in their bags.
I managed to pull off a great shot from the cover boat just as the boys were coming back from a sneak and they got a big kick out of it. I was watching them head back and noticed a high drake redhead that was going to cross right over the cover boat. It was coming with the wind so I knew the gale would actually help me with my lead and not blow my pattern away. And it was flying along just perfect for my style of high shooting, right to left, and at a steady speed. I waited till it was just overhead, jumped up, gave a long smooth lead and dropped the bird graveyard dead. The boys gave me a big cheer and managed to pick it up on their way. My standard joke with them is that I can miss the birds at 20 yards in the decoys all day but give me a high flyer at about 60 yards and I'll knock it out easy as pie. I don't know why that is, I guess when they're real close I just get in too much of a hurry sometimes but if it's a long shot I just take it slow and easy.
I managed to remember to get out my camera and took a bunch of pictures. Hopefully they come out, it was kind of a low grey day so I'm crossing my fingers. Pretty fun stuff, using a 90 some odd year old Parker, a wooden sneak boat from the 30's, a rig of wood and cork decoys, and killing a limit of the best diving ducks in the worst conditions.
Regards,
Destry the Madman
Last edited on Fri Nov 30th, 2007 11:21 pm by Destry Hoffard
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Derrick Stewart
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 11:53 pm |
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Destry,
Thanks for the short story. Nice reading while enjoying a glass of Wild Turkey. Your stories makes the madman come out in all of us.. If im lucky i'll get out on my first duck hunt before the year's out.
By the way how's the book coming along?
Time to fix another drink,
Derrick
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Fri Nov 30th, 2007 11:55 pm |
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Not nearly enough stories sent in yet to fill it, I'm still waiting on about 99.9% of you guys to give me your "Tales of the Parker Gun".
Destry
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paul harm
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Posted: Sat Dec 1st, 2007 01:33 pm |
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| Great story. Duck hunters have to be a different breed - me, I like grouse hunting with a bit "better" weather. I went duck hunting once in a layout boat and must say it was quite enjoyable. The weather was too nice, so the birds wern't flying although I did manage three ducks. What you're doing is more like true duck hunting. Good luck, and keep the stories coming in. Paul
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C Roger Giles
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Posted: Sat Dec 1st, 2007 03:36 pm |
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Destry;
Duck hunting and fishinh have a common thread with the wet ass and hungry gut saying.
You misspelled madman, it is maniac.
I hope you left some ducks for Harry and the boys down south to hunt.
Roger
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Richard Flanders
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Posted: Sat Dec 1st, 2007 04:02 pm |
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Damn Destry. My trip with you sounds tame compared with this one! Maybe I better try for a later trip next year to catch some of the 'real' duck hunting weather...
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Sat Dec 1st, 2007 08:56 pm |
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This is the best time to be shooting on the bay, when it gets below freezing and the ice starts making you better go or you'll miss the best of it. But with the mild winters we have these days, you never know when it's finally going to come. We never really had it last year at all, until season was over.
Destry
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C Roger Giles
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Posted: Sat Dec 1st, 2007 09:45 pm |
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Destry,
For your duck hunting benifit I hope you are hunting at this moment. We have 25mph wind with snow the last hour and a half and weather that was getting ready for these conditions since 2:00 this afternoon. Duck hunters delight, game wordens can not spot you in these snowy conditions nor can they hear you because of the wind so get out the lead 4/5's and shoot late.
Roger Coger
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John Hickerson
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Posted: Sat Dec 1st, 2007 10:37 pm |
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Destry,
I truly enjoy you hunting tales. Keep them coming. Takes me back to my days as a duck hunting lunatic, that is, risking my life to shoot a duck.
Hick
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RICHARD L ANDERSON
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Posted: Sat Dec 1st, 2007 10:56 pm |
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DLH,
Your tales of Mitchels Bay reminds me of a trip to Manitoba's Oak Lake. this is a large shallow lake and three of us, two Labs and a couple bags of decoys all piled into a square back Grumen canoe with a 9 horse motor.
The wind came up, the ducks were flying so well that we only shot drake Bluebills. Limits were had and the whitecaps came just as easy as the ducks. There was all of 4 inches of freeboard as we headed into the wind and back to the cabin. The little motor couldn't handel the conditions and we were losing ground. Somehow we managed to turn it around and made it to the closest dry ground. We piled everything under the canoe and made a very,very long walk back to dry clothes and hot coffee (liberly dosed with medicine).
We were scarsely back when the owner of the cabins came in with a concerned look on his face. We were told in no uncertain terms that duck hunters perish on that lake in that type of weather. I do miss duck hunting .
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Kurt Densmore
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Posted: Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 07:32 pm |
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At least once a season we get into the snotty weather on Saginaw Bay. This year we were layout shooting and a buddy was hunting from his boat blind with a 14' john no less. Well, the wind and waves got too bad for him to hold anchor so he pulled everything and anchored close to the tender boat. The wind picked up to 35-40mph gusts and the waves swelled in minutes. He couldn't get on the bow of his johnboat to pull anchor because of the waves. I told him to cut the line and threw him a knife as I went to pull a buddy from the layout. By the time we were in position to eject him the waves were in the 4' range and building. He grabbed the gunnel of my deep-V Lund and left his feet in the layout. Then he tried to reach for the hand held radio to keep it dry. I yelled for him to jump into the boat as he was now bridging the layout and the tender in the swells. With some engine finess work I was able to get closer to the layout and he was able to get into the tender. I was very relieved of this and I am sure he was also. At about this time I realized that the bilge wasn't working so It was a slow methodical pursuit to bring in 80 decoys and an anchored 115lb layout without bringing much water into the tender. While we were undertaking the task I watched as my buddy took off downwind with is 14' john and I said a little prayer for him and his chessy. I sure am glad he had following seas. We were able to pick up all the gear without taking on much water, relatively speaking, into the tender. It is always a relief when gear has been stowed and I am watching the gps unit to find the channel bouys. Four footers are much more comfortable in following seas for sure. My buddy Elbert was safe in the harbor and had his boat loaded on the trailer when we arrived. Albeit a little rattled because his boat had water up to his shins and he lost a couple mats of fastgrass that floated out. At least we shot a limit of Scaup.... The Redheads and Cans hadn't flown yet for the day. That is a problem with diver hunting in the states. Two scaup, Two Redhead, Two Cans just isn't worth the trouble for most guys. At least 4 Cans or Redhead and 6 Scaup can be had in the Mitchells Bay. Watching flocks of Scaup fly threw or land in the decoys after shooting two is a difficult thing to do. They are such a sporting bird to hunt. They certainly don't slow down like mallards. If you have a need for speed, hunt divers....
A trophy hooded merganser that went to the taxidermist and a greater scaup.
Couple of Redheads taken with the old GH 12.
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Richard Flanders
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Posted: Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 07:40 pm |
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Good story Kurt. IF there was ever any doubt that duck hunters are at least a little crazy, you just remedied that! Sounds like quite a time. I'm sure Destry is envious reading this...
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 08:28 pm |
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Kurt,
Sounds like a exciting day, always a good story when you’ve made it through a rough time. I’ve been there too, and when it’s actually happening your old backdoor is mighty tight. I haven’t shot layout in ages. Always a good time but, as you said, a lot of work the way the US limits are these days.
Jim and I are about to (maybe) pull a crazy stunt. The late season is this weekend as you know, and he’s out scouting the river today. We’re talking about trying to sneak shoot near a huge raft of canvasback and other mixed divers that’s sitting on the US side.
He’s found a place where the ice only runs out about 20 yards and is thick enough to walk on. We’re thinking we can slide the boat off the trailer onto the ice and then just shove until we hit liquid. The trick will be getting it back onto the ice afterwards of course. But the water is shallow so it shouldn’t be a huge problem.
The other trick will be to figure out how to make a sneak if the wind isn’t blowing with the current in the channel. The water in the shallows is a lot more slack but still enough to make a difference.
Do you boys have any plans to try and hunt?
If I don’t post again after Sunday you’ll know things didn’t go quite as planned.
Destry
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Richard Flanders
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Posted: Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 08:34 pm |
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Good luck Destry! You taking that D grade 10ga from Ivory Beads on this one?????
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Kurt Densmore
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Posted: Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 09:18 pm |
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Cabelas has a pretty nice DH10 damascus...A whole lot cheaper...but that probably won't shoot a big enough payload for Destry. Too bad the skeleton butt plate is gone...
I will try to get on some geese and mallards this weekend. Not sure if I will have the time to scout. Will proably have to run traffic on them. Good luck on the Cans. I hope you get a good sneak in. As long as the water is wadable and you can get your ars back up on the ice you will be fine. I hope the weather holds for ya. It sounds like it will be in the 40's but not sure about the wind.
I have an interesting waterfowling gun on the way. I have not seen pictures so I have no idea as to condition. It is a 1912mfg #2 frame CHE 12 ga with 32" F/F damascus and a straight stock. I hope that it makes its appearance by Saturday. Only 6 CH 32" guns with Damascus bbls were made per TPS. Of course there may be some books missing with some. I have never shot a straight stocked gun so it may be interesting.
Destry, if you have never checked the Duck Hunters Refuge site look up the Michigan Forum and one of the guys posted up some of his Grosse Isle area scouting over the weekend. I know Andy and he is a good guy.
some more eye candy for the northern split...
Good luck and be safe this weekend.
lets also add this one...
Hard to believe I enjoy riding the waves in a 10' boat a couple miles from shore.....
Last edited on Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 09:29 pm by Kurt Densmore
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 10:31 pm |
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This is goldeneye shooting weather for certain. Wish I had a few more decoys for them, I’ve only got a couple in the sneak rig.
Nice shot of the layout boat and the birds. Looks like you got a scoter, that’s a scarce bird in these parts. Nathan had some guys from Lansing out one day on the South Shore and they killed three, first he’d ever seen. I’ve seen a couple on Mitchell’s and actually missed a drake oldsquaw there a couple years ago.
Good luck if you get to go. I really hope this sneaking deal works out, I’m excited. Jim has a mallard spot on the river near his house but he’s crazy like me and would rather shoot a couple cans than a limit of mallards.
Destry
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RICHARD L ANDERSON
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Posted: Wed Jan 2nd, 2008 11:27 pm |
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That D grade 10 at Ivory Beads is more $$$ than a loaded up crew cab 4X4 .
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 12:16 am |
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I think I''ll just stick with the old GH magnum 10 gauge. It does the job, and I have plenty of cartridges.
Destry
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Don Kaas
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Posted: Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 12:52 am |
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Destry's new Parker is underway. It is an 1884 T1 10 ga. 30" top lever on a #3 frame. Perfect for sneakin' and rakin" with a few short 10's with 4 1/2 drams of Pyrodex and 1 3/8 oz of Bismuth #4s. Engraved with "The Sinkbox Society" on its smooth rib and re-stocked in a crotch figured black walnut straight grip to proper high and sinister dimensions, it should prove just the ticket next season on Mitchell's Bay from blind or battery. Hefty but still handy and definitely something Capt. Bogardus would have felt comfortable with...
The report from Barnegat Bay is mixed. Wind and low water in the channel have isolated Sandy Island G.C. until, hopefully, Friday morning. 12 degrees temps tonight will lock up the low water along the shore and freeze the ponds. The good news is there are plenty of Atlantic brant, lesser scaup and geese plus the old reliable dippers...the big 36" PH might bark yet with some St. Louis 3s and maybe, just maybe, a few of those big old red legged cold weather blackies might hang around.
Despairing of finding a #3 frame 32" 12g Parker, I returned to the dark side this a.m. and bought a 32" A.H. Fox AE 12g with #1 barrels choked .030/.040 weighing 8lb., 2oz. and stocked high like I like them at 1 3/8"x 1 7/8"...more duck medicine...
Last edited on Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 01:49 am by Don Kaas
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Destry Hoffard
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Posted: Thu Jan 3rd, 2008 06:05 am |
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Damn Mista Kaas, that’s going to be quite a gun!!! I don’t know what to say….
Destry
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