I got a duck license this year after more than 10 years. Mainly it was a case of moving towns and not having the old friends to go with. This year my 15 & 12 year old kids wanted to go with me and so I got the license. As mentioned in another thread, I removed the lead shots from some factory 36 gram loads and replaced them with 30 to 32 grams of Bismuth #5s. I had checked the farm out earlier and the farmer friend said that there were a few white ducks were around that might belong to the neighbour!

My 15 year old daughter backed out at the last minute but the 12 year old boy brought his buddy along. We woke up at 4 am and were off to the friend's farm an hour away - in terrible heavy rain. Reached the farm in pitch dark and pouring rain and decided to sit in the car. By 7 am the rain cleared and we got some light. No sound of gunshots in that particular valley.

So we started walking the paddocks towards the river and saw few Paradise ducks (parries) but they would not let us come close. We got to the river and walked about 50 yards along the 30 foot bank. The river was muddy and running swift. The banks were about 40 yards apart and a very winding river with many repeated "S" shaped bends. We stopped and had a look and softly talked about the situation when suddenly a flock of ducks took off from right under us and quartering away to the right. I immediately saw that 3 of them were the white ducks but the other 3 or 4 were regular mallards. Suddenly old habits kicked in and I just picked up the gun and pointed it a female in the middle and "Bang" and down she went. The range would have been about 25 meters and she went straight down. We saw her float in the fast river and it was obviously a multiple hit but with no dog, it was an un-recovered bird.

We walked another 100 meters slowly and crossed a creek that was overflowing and then I saw about 400 yards away on the road that 2 guys were walking up across the paddocks towards us. The car looked like Dept of Conservation truck and they must be game wardens checking licenses and non-toxic shots. So the polite transaction was completed and they were happy that all my ammo was marked as handloads....

Back to the river I started using the duck call. I fired a couple of ambitious high shots at parries. Then I realised that the mallards were responding to my calling......after 12 years!!!! But I missed a pair of passing birds.....then more birds circling us. Some of them came back 3 times and were getting lower each time. Then I got a chance at a flock of 3 birds and nailed the middle one a drake - straight down with multiple hits....but again into the fast flowing river.

The boys were getting really excited with the action. Even I was enjoying it after so long.

A couple more flocks flew by and I was a bit hasty on one and shot too soon instead of trusting my calling and letting them circle back again. The action slowed down and there were no more birds in the sky. It was starting to get warm by 8.30. So we walked back to the truck for some hot coffee from my thermos and some food for the 12 year olds. We then saw the farmer's 5 year old who wanted to join us. So we walked up the hill to the stock dam. But no luck there as it was a small pond. The uphill walk had us sweating in all the camo gear and when we got back to the road, it was 9.30 and no birds in sight.

Well that was a very enjoyable opening day though it was very brief and the bird numbers seen was low. I mostly enjoyed the excited banter of the boys and the first quick shot to bag the hen mallard. One word on the Bismuth shot, I did not feel the difference from lead at all. Sorry no photos.

Sounds like you had a fun day.
We had 6 hunters on farm, and between us we all managed to limit out by sunset, a total of around 60 Parradise ducks, and 36 Mallards, plus a couple of Pheasant and some Pukeko.
Everyone shot well, and overall the day went well with ducks decoying properly, and no miscomunication , so we are pretty happy. Went ut again tonight and nearly managed to limit out again, which is unusual for here.

Well.....lets see the photo's Shanks

Bloody photo's, your as bad as TP

I only have one from last night. Usually the second night isn't so great, but we had an awesome shoot, and I nearly managed a limit of mallard again. The birds were flying well, and we shot well too, only one getting away.


The gun is my Sauer 16 gauge made in 1922, brought back to england from Germany after the war and British Nitro proofed, before somehow maeing its way to NZ. I loose nothing to the flash new semi- autos, and often come out on top.

It didnt come out of Germany with that silly rubber girls boot on the end of it ha ha.

What have you done to the stock

Relax guys, its just a touch short In L.O.P. I'm only trialling a bit extra length without doing any physical harm to the stock.
Regardless of how it looks TP, its still going to claim more pheasants than that extrema you carry.

AYA No1

I wish I could find a nice 16 bore and not have to worry about non toxic shot. Until then I'll play with the Bismuth....

Nice bag of ducks there.

quote:

Originally posted by TOP_PREDATOR:
AYA No1

Have you bought something I don't know about?