Hunting in LA.part 5
 

Nice wind from the north.60 degrees. 4 hunters 20 ducks,mallards,gadwal, teal and spoonbills.Hunting out of pit blinds in a flooded old rice field.Big flights of geese and we killed 4 specks.Back again this weekend.Use a 20 gauge DHE.

You boys are having quite a season so far. I'm envious on the specks, I've only ever shot three in my life and those all in one trip last season.

I'm going out in the morning by myself to try and shoot a couple geese. Season has been out for a couple weeks and comes back in at daylight. If there are any around they shouldn't be too shy.

DLH

hope you boys keep having good luck in l a howd the 20 ga do how far out will it kill a duck...have used the big ten for most of my duck hunting and thats been a while....destrey hope the big 12 or the swamp angel comes through... charlie

The 20 gauge does great.I used a 12 gauge for years.Moved to the 20 and have had a fine time.No problem.High,overhead shots are no problem as are the decoying and going away shots..I will say that I used hand loads for years in a 12,1 1/2 oz of copper coated 5's with a AA hull,CCI primer and Winchester 571 power [32 grains]now that was a shell !

What load are you using in your 20?

I buy shells now.Steel shot has made me go retail.Do you have any suggestions ?

Speckle bellies are awfully good eating! Congratulations on having a fine season.

what brand of 20 ga are you shooting and is it a 3 inch gun...what barrel lenth and choke....... charlie

I am using Hevi-Shot.#5.What is a good shot to reload for non-toxic? I wonder if I could duplicate the shell I was reloading with lead with non toxic or is there a company that will do it for me ?

2 and 3/4,28" barrels,full and modified.That is plenty of power and I have had good success.Also remember we had a point system down here for many years which if you played it right,you could come back with 10 ducks.I got a lot of practice.In retrospect the limit was much too generous.

I don't load myself but a lot of guys have great success with Nice Shot. You can load it with a lead recipe and it's deadly according to several different friends.

The geese didn't want to play this morning, it was strange how they acted. I had one fair chance on a pair and missed both barrels. The way I've been shooting this season I should have killed them both. I fear I've struck my late season slump, it happens to me some years without explanation. I'm going to give it another try in the morning with a different set up, we'll see what happens.


Destry

thanks for the info on the gun...may try a small bore myself..dont have a parker in 20 but have a lefever and a lc smith.. shot a 16 ga this evening at cans will try one of the 20 s tommorrow on cans...hope you boys have a good shoot tommorrow and destrey hope you get out of that slump...maybe one of you guns is jelous over the other gun hope not good luck maybe you boys get one with jewelry on there feet .... charlie

Yes John Specks are best.

Destry, someone else gets the dreded can't hit myself in the #%$ syndrom. Been shooting good put my doubles pin on vest hope it doesnt put the "hooie" on me.

I get in a slump at least once every season, it's enough to make a man crazy.

Speaking of jewelery on their legs, a friend was hunting over in Canada this afternoon and shot a banded blackjack. Now that's a rarity, any banded diver is a prize above all prizes.


DLH

Is that a Scaup or a Ringneck? I have heard them called both. I have been lucky enough to shoot a banded Teal along with a Mallard,Gadwal and Canada Goose.The goose had a yellow band around it's neck as well as a regular band. Kinda said shoot me!I go out tomorrow after ducks.Weather is supposed to be right.48 with a 20 knot wind gusting to 30.I will give a report,I am going to shoot a Parker 16 with 30" barrels.

Blackjacks are ringnecks as far as I've always been concerned. I think some guys don't know the difference between bluebill and ringneck so they use the name blackjack for both but jacks are ringnecks for sure.

I've shot bands on mallards, a wood duck, a teal, and geese. Never killed a neckband, that's a real prize for sure.


DLH

Ringnecks
 

Fun to shoot.Sound like jet planes.I been lucky enough to shoot a number of them in SC below Charleston.They eat well too.

Yes, I've always been a big fan of the blackjack. Most guys don't get to shoot them right in the decoys because they seem to normally just want to buzz a mallard rig. If you've got a lot of jacks in your area throw in half a dozen decoys of their species and you'll shoot them with feet down everytime.


Destry

my first time to here of waterfowl wearing pearls....does it also carry info like the wedding bands...charlie

Louisiana part 6
 

The duck hunting gods forgot me yesterday.It seemed like a perfect day.Cold,wind 15 to 20 with gust to 25.Never happened.The front got over us and stalled.I left early and my friends stayed and got 8 ducks.A couple of Mallards and a pintail and even a Widgeon.However they miss a lot of decoying flocks! Feet done crying "eat me.eat me now. 7 to be exact!At least that is what they owned up to,They were not using Parker's.I am going again on Wednesday and will report.How do I take pictures and post.Can I do it with my phone?

Edmund,

Posting photos is fairly easy. Get medium-sized photos onto your computer. When you post a reply just note that below the box you're typing in there's an area called "Additional Options". Below that is a box that says "Manage Attachments". Click on that and select the photos you want to upload to your post. It's easy. Believe me - if I can do it anyone can.

Enjoying your posts very much and have always been a fan of your fine products!

John