Went duck hunting this morning

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MCgunner

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Well, I went duck hunting this morning. We drug the trailer down to Port Lavaca for the night. Drove out a bit after 4 arrived at the GDWMA gate. Drove in. Heck, I was the only one there! Got to wondering if they wanted folks in there, KNEW the season was on. But, the gate was unlocked and if they'd closed the delta for any reason, it would have been locked with a sign.

So, then, I pick a hole I've always done decent on with a few exceptions of course. Molly and I walk down there and get set up. I get to wondering as I sat and waited for shooting time under that unusually bright full moon, if maybe nobody showed because the duck hunting has been bad like last season. Of course, I didn't hunt the delta last season, was in an Eagle Lake hunting club.

But, very early I got a few teal flights. First duck was a spoony bill came in 20 feet from me buzzing low over the deeks. Miracle I shot it, just swung fast and fired instinctively. The old Mossberg still works. :D Would never have found the thing, fell in the water hyacinth, but Molly (black lab) sniffed it out and brought it to me.

I came away with 2 teal and the spoony. I don't hunt ducks for the meat, fortunately. BUT, guess what, I hunted a dozen times last season in that hunting club which cost me 1500 dollars for the privilege, and shot FIVE BIRDS all season. I paid 48 bucks for my APH and made one hunt and I lack 2 birds topping that. I actually could run down there from here considering how few were hunting, that shocked me. Didn't need to be so early, but we enjoy staying in the trailer and eating Migas (excellent) at the El Patio for breakfast.

After I settled in, a couple of guys showed up. There was a guy back on one of the potholes in the back that was STILL shooting as I left, at what I don't know. There were more than one hunter on that hole. A guy hunted the pothole behind me. He left before I did, so he was slow, heard only a couple of shots from that hole. And, there was someone on Buffalo Lake that left before me, heard 'em shoot a few times early. It's early in the season and we have a blue norther coming I understand. It has been warm for this time of year, so I'm betting that front brings us some big ducks. I'll be trying it again in the second split. Think I'll hunt deer for a while. But, man, I had fun. I love to hunt ducks, but I'm getting too danged old for it. It's tough on an old body, but I suppose I need the workout. :D
 
Glad to hear you were able to get in a hunt. I remember you posting earlier about having vision issues and were concerned about being able to hunt. Hope all is well with you.
 
MCgunner said:
............................I don't hunt ducks for the meat, fortunately...........................
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I hope you are doing something good with them like giving them away to those that do. Hate to see a natural resource wasted for nothing other than sport.


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Acera said:
I hope you are doing something good with them like giving them away to those that do. Hate to see a natural resource wasted for nothing other than sport.


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What's wrong with sport? This is my fiftieth year hunting ducks, started when I was 14. And, who said I don't eat 'em? It's just that one spends a lot of money on steel shot, licensing, APH permit. The meat probably costs 50 dollars a pound. I could do better at the super market if it were just for the meat. :D This applies to a lot of folks and their hunting, though.

Hogs....hogs are for the meat. That's why I'd rather trap 'em than hunt 'em. :D
 
MCgunner said:
And, who said I don't eat 'em?
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Uh, you did. Remember the quote I posted, you said you don't hunt ducks for the meat. Guess I could be wrong but I never heard of anyone not eating the meat and just eating feathers.

If you harvest a game animal, you have an ethical duty to respect that. It is not like ducks are an invasive species or a nuisance that needs to be controlled. Does not matter how long you been hunting, if you doing it wrong, you doing it wrong. I have been duck hunting for quite a while also, but I make damn sure that what I take is used properly and not wasted.

Please don't give us hunters, that try to do the right thing, a bad image by just going out to kill something. That is not sport, that is deplorable behavior.


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I think you should give me the benefit of the doubt and not put words in my mouth. I said I don't hunt 'em for the meat. I don't, I hunt 'em for the experience and the enjoyment of the hunting. Sure, I eat what I harvest, but if it was just about the meat, I'd be far better off buying chicken at the store. :rolleyes:
 
MCgunner said:
See why I quit hanging out here so much, guys? :rolleyes:
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The morality police can be very harsh here. I mentioned once letting a non resident use my resident bear tag on his once in a life time hunt and you'd think I was admitting using set guns and land mines on game.
 
Well, just booked a hunt with a local outfitter for my Waco buddies and me on Monday, Dec 12. Will be at least 3, probably 4, perhaps five hunters.

http://www.redbluffprairie.com/

I'm READY, just need to pick up another box of 10 gauge T steel. Haven't been on a good goose hunt in 7 years. Larry's been busy. I've hunted geese, but I said GOOD goose hunt. LOL

We hunted last out of Port Lavaca, Calhoun County, Texas and shot a few birds. :D

224802d1479851437-booked-goose-hunt-ilvxgz.jpg
 
Weight is good. Mine is a single shot H&R, 9 lbs. My 3.5" 12 is a Mossberg 535, about 7.5 lbs. That Mossy kicks the HELL out of me with 3.5" T shot. Besides, the 10 patterns amazingly tight and homogeneous. That thing brings 'em down out of the stratosphere, which is handy when there's not a cloud in the sky and the birds ain't working well. In that pic, though, there was about a 50 yard ceiling. I've never hunted a more perfect day. Temps were in the 60s through the morning. We sat on folding chairs behind a camo screen. We drove right up to the spot on the ranch road, crossed the fence, and set up. I've never hunted a more comfortable morning, either. :D

My bud is holding his Browning BPS 10 in that pic and his boy has a Mossberg 835 ultimag 12 gauge. He's now an officer in the army, young with a tough shoulder. :D
 
Your buddy looks like a guy I used to work with when I lived down that way years ago, name of Randazzo. That isn't him by any chance is it?
 
MCgunner said:
Weight is good. Mine is a single shot H&R, 9 lbs. My 3.5" 12 is a Mossberg 535, about 7.5 lbs. That Mossy kicks the HELL out of me with 3.5" T shot. Besides, the 10 patterns amazingly tight and homogeneous. That thing brings 'em down out of the stratosphere, which is handy when there's not a cloud in the sky and the birds ain't working well. In that pic, though, there was about a 50 yard ceiling. I've never hunted a more perfect day. Temps were in the 60s through the morning. We sat on folding chairs behind a camo screen. We drove right up to the spot on the ranch road, crossed the fence, and set up. I've never hunted a more comfortable morning, either. :D

My bud is holding his Browning BPS 10 in that pic and his boy has a Mossberg 835 ultimag 12 gauge. He's now an officer in the army, young with a tough shoulder. :D
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Ah I admire you tough wilderness mountain men!
 
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