MCgunner
Member
Went duck hunting this morning. We drug the travel trailer down to Port Lavaca yesterday and I got up this morning at 3:30 to go. I haven't been in 2 years what with moving up here to the woods taking up 2 seasons ago and then deer hunting last year being my big interest. Man, I got there at 10 after four to sign up and there weren't, but a few of the lesser spots left. I picked one that's fresh water, usually has big ducks on it, and is usually either GREAT or SUX year to year, day to day. I've taken mallard off that hole in the past. Also, this hole was the least walking in heavy muck of all the holes available this morning. As I get older, that's an important consideration. I did trip in the muck once, stuck the shotgun's butt down in it to balance, but it's fresh water, so I don't worry about the gun in that hole as I do the salt water holes out there. I was shooting my Winchester wood and blue auto, wanted to. I have a camo/plastic tried and true Mossberg that's very tough shows little of the affects of 22 years of hunting that place with it, but I just wanted to shoot the autoloader. Don't shoot it much on doves anymore since I got my little SxS 20 gauge.
I had to buy a new set of waders as my old ones had sat and dry rotted a bit too much. They were heavy rubber, got reinforced vinyl ones this time. I have neoprenes around here, 5mm, but it's WAY too hot for those right now.
Well, I shot two teal, fired six shots one of which was to finish one of the teal. I noticed all the other shooting on Buffalo Lake died down within an hour after sun up. SO, I figured the big ducks ain't down here, yet. The biologist at the check station said the migration is late this year, so I think I'll wait til the second split to go back. I might have me a canoe by then to get Molly and me across buffalo lake to one of the good spots over there nobody picks due to the long hike across the shallow lake in soft mud.
Anyway, it was great to get out and watch the dawn from the marsh again. To me, it ain't really about the meat when duck hunting, it's being out there with the dog, working the ducks, seeing the dawn over the marsh... just the experience. I mean, I've been duck hunting since I was 14, which was 48 years ago. It gets into your blood, ya know? The ducks decoyed well this morning, called easily, ain't late season call shy, yet. Yeah, I had fun.
I think I'll wait until after the second split (two part duck season) to do it again. Maybe there'll be more ducks down here. AND, they're only open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Next trip will be mid week so there won't be such a crowd.
I had to buy a new set of waders as my old ones had sat and dry rotted a bit too much. They were heavy rubber, got reinforced vinyl ones this time. I have neoprenes around here, 5mm, but it's WAY too hot for those right now.
Well, I shot two teal, fired six shots one of which was to finish one of the teal. I noticed all the other shooting on Buffalo Lake died down within an hour after sun up. SO, I figured the big ducks ain't down here, yet. The biologist at the check station said the migration is late this year, so I think I'll wait til the second split to go back. I might have me a canoe by then to get Molly and me across buffalo lake to one of the good spots over there nobody picks due to the long hike across the shallow lake in soft mud.
Anyway, it was great to get out and watch the dawn from the marsh again. To me, it ain't really about the meat when duck hunting, it's being out there with the dog, working the ducks, seeing the dawn over the marsh... just the experience. I mean, I've been duck hunting since I was 14, which was 48 years ago. It gets into your blood, ya know? The ducks decoyed well this morning, called easily, ain't late season call shy, yet. Yeah, I had fun.
I think I'll wait until after the second split (two part duck season) to do it again. Maybe there'll be more ducks down here. AND, they're only open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Next trip will be mid week so there won't be such a crowd.
