Drakes galore

[Stan Hillis]

It ain't Friday, but what the heck. . . .

Solo woodie hunt this morning with my trusty old 30" BSS, with .018" choke in each barrel and BOSS #5 Cu plated bismuth.

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/74178_800x600.jpg (https://www.jpgbox.com/page/74178_800x600/)

[Garry L Gordon]

Congratulations! Oh to be in the South in January.

[Chris Pope]

Nice work! Great photo! Woodies are something. Were they screaming in to decoys in a blind, were you jump shooting, passing? I think they can be a tough bird to knock down.

[Stan Hillis]

Chris, it was maybe the most perfect set-up I've ever had shooting woodies. A friend dammed up a creek on his land to create about a 10 acre brush filled pond surrounded by high banks and big trees. At daybreak the woodies fly upstream, from where ever they roosted, to spend the day in the new pond. It's about like a very big beaver pond. He had sunk two plastic pallets into the bottom just behind the dam, to stand on. All I needed was hip boots, and I could turn if needed without my feet being sunk into the bottom.

The woodies came screaming upstream at about 30'-40' high over my head. Easily over 100 came over. I was able to see them coming in time to mount and shoot, with the ducks falling about 10 yards behind me in the pond. Water was too deep to wade out to them even if I had been wearing my waders, so after it was over I went home and got my duck hunting fiberglass kayak to retrieve them. Forty-two degrees and drizzling rain. Just a perfect morning. Literally, one for the books, as I will be recording it in my journal with pics.

Thanks for asking for the details . . . .

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/74182_800x600.jpg (https://www.jpgbox.com/page/74182_800x600/)

[Garry L Gordon]

Sounds like the perfect hunt. Good to write that one down, although I doubt you’ll forget such a hunt.

Hey, are you going to Arkansas this year (or have you already)?

[Stan Hillis]

Hey, are you going to Arkansas this year (or have you already)?

I'm still trying to decide, Garry. Haven't been this season . . . yet. I used to go by myself often, 9 1/2 hrs., but since my grandsons have been with me twice I just don't have the desire to go anymore without them. My years have me now battling within myself, in a way. I'm very healthy, work on the farm full time, but some of the get up and go has "got up and went". Not energy, mind you, but drive to get up and get out in the cold alone an hour or two before sunrise.

I've had a great sporting life. Started hunting at age 8, continued throughout my life (with a brief few years when girls became more important), been to Cordoba twice for doves, and chased ducks in several states. These days I fight the urge to "sleep in" when it comes to duck hunting. But, so far I can still fight it and go alone. Days like yesterday morning will make getting up and going so much easier in the days to come.

If I do make a run to east Arkansas, to the L 'Anguille River, I'll surely make a report with pics. Thank you so much for asking. Means a lot.

[Garry L Gordon]

Stan, I feel like I could have written something very similar. I don't go out alone much any more, especially in the early morning, and certainly not as often as I used to. I know what you mean about your "get up and go." I like to tell Elaine that some days I feel my "ebb has flowed." My young friend -- who I introduced to duck hunting when he was in his teens -- used to belong to the leasing outfit I do. He took me along on early morning duck hunts on days I'm sure I would not have gone on my own. I told Elaine he treated me like an old man, setting decoys, retrieving ducks, breaking ice. I'd feel guilty until Elaine reminded me I did the same for him when he was a much younger...and that I was an old man(!) He had his first child last year and opted to put his "duck money" toward day care. I duck hunted once this past season.

I hope that if it's right for you to kick water in the timber in Arkansas, you make that trip. Likewise, if it's right for you to look back at photos of past hunts sitting in front of a fire (or heater!), then I hope that brings you equal pleasure.

The best now is to savor -- what is to come, or what has passed.

Enjoy your end of season, however you spend it.

I'm still trying to decide, Garry. Haven't been this season . . . yet. I used to go by myself often, 9 1/2 hrs., but since my grandsons have been with me twice I just don't have the desire to go anymore without them. My years have me now battling within myself, in a way. I'm very healthy, work on the farm full time, but some of the get up and go has "got up and went". Not energy, mind you, but drive to get up and get out in the cold alone an hour or two before sunrise.

I've had a great sporting life. Started hunting at age 8, continued throughout my life (with a brief few years when girls became more important), been to Cordoba twice for doves, and chased ducks in several states. These days I fight the urge to "sleep in" when it comes to duck hunting. But, so far I can still fight it and go alone. Days like yesterday morning will make getting up and going so much easier in the days to come.

If I do make a run to east Arkansas, to the L 'Anguille River, I'll surely make a report with pics. Thank you so much for asking. Means a lot.

[Chris Pope]

Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the morning with some woodies! You know a young duck dog might make it easier to get up early and save the trip back to get that fine looking duck retrieving boat. But I also know that getting up at 3 or 4 is a bit tougher now than earlier in life!
I remember an evening I was hunting ducks along the Contoocook River in NH when I was in my late 20's. I parked myself under an old oak tree that was dropping acorns into the shallow water of the bank I sat on with my lab. I did not have great visibility up or down stream and couldn't believe that as these woodies came screaming in they could literally set on the water 20' from me before I could even get my gun up. And the ones I did see in time to take an incoming shot rarely had a feather touched! My lab, Calvin, sat there looking at me after several misses. We did finally get a couple ducks which he greatfully retrieved but it was a humbling experience to say the least. Love wood ducks!
Thanks for sending along the details. Makes me want to go duck hunting.