My beloved local feathered friends get a respite until next season, starting tomorrow, for the inland MA zone.

As where we hunted is tidal, we were forced to battle tough ice conditions, having to chase down and/or reset blocks at times literally every five minutes. A PITA, to be sure, but well worth the effort. The birds were flying strong, and since they love this area for its bounty of acorns (almost all of the crops were loaded with nuts), we had their number. Nut fed mallards? Hellooooo, roasting pan!

Very nice.

I wonder which is worse? Battling the ice or mosquitoes, alligators and snakes?

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Very nice.

I wonder which is worse? Battling the ice or mosquitoes, alligators and snakes?

I'll take the ice every time. Snakes and gators, no biggie. Mosquitoes I can't handle!

hardcore

Was it a rising tide that caused the decoys to go lower and lower?

I would have frozen to death. That is a great picture of the ducks.

Opposite, Larry. Falling tide, water rushing out to Atlantic. Anchor got hung up in rocks. Voila. I was chuckling as I snapped the shots, thinking to myself of those old WWII movies where an enemy ship is spotted, and the skipper yells, "DIVE! DIVE"

I just watch some show on TV where they were shooting ducks in MT. It was snowing so hard that they had to go dunk the decoys every 5 minutes. I had personally never seen that.

Congrats again.

Nice bag Kamo....Congratulations. The feet on these late season ducks are so amazingly bright. Nicely done.

Thanks, guys. Collector: me too! One of the birds taken (hard to see) was a hen black/mallard X. I thought of you.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I just watch some show on TV where they were shooting ducks in MT. It was snowing so hard that they had to go dunk the decoys every 5 minutes. I had personally never seen that.

Congrats again.

Nice pile o' birds. I believe I recognize that last pic......that the same day of the waders standing erect sans body?

No hijack intended....but here's my apropos bag from this AM for the NH closer......a day early......BIG, fat drake.

That blackie looks to be of mount quality. Nice.

That is a primo Male Black Duck...I do not see a trailing white edge on the speculum either....definitely a mounter.

Agreed. Not many these days lack any trace of white.

Kamo Gari,

You certainly deserve a good hunt like that, for living where you do. I don't see how you do it. More power to you.

Good stuff KG ! cold out here in NorCal too, dropped into the high 20's this morning; brrrrrrrrrrr
how's your year been ??

Best Regards,
Craig Nolan

Pretty good, Craig, just didn't get out nearly as much as usual. Good to see you here, as always. We're getting smacked by a strong Nor'Easter tonight into tomorrow. Any guesses where I'll be?

Going to head out to ID to try to finally get some birds we don't get here (not going to mention names so as to not jinx my odds ) for the collection.

How about you left coast folks? Still getting them?

No guesses required on my part KG, take some of those videos whilst you're out in it, hope you kill a few birds ... I myself will be in Idaho and Oregon this weekend, chasing those f(*&^ing chukars, huns and quail along the Snake ... I've got some buddies up there who are bonafide chukar (and all other types of hunting) fanatics, should be great if I can keep up; to that end, if you hear tell of a greenhorn from Kalifornia falling into the Snake, it could be me

So so out here, my business partner's a member at a really good club here in the SF Bay Area, just found it this year, I've gone with him a few times and have done well. Other than that, mixed results are all I'm hearing, lot's of weather this year and the birds seem to be well dispersed.

Good luck tomorrow, be safe ...

Best Regards,
Craig Nolan