I dont even know where to start. Yesterday was epic. Without a shadow of a doubt the most pleased I have ever been at the end of a duck hunt.
Saturday, JeffD4L and I headed out to a private field I have access to through some family ties and set up for honkers. The geese never really flew in the right time frame we had due to cold weather.. But we talked one flock of wigeon into the goose decoys with some refuge feed chatter and I was fortunate enough to triple on drakes, including a super nice drake for the wall.I believe this is my fifth season chasing ducks, and most of the birds I shoot are wigeon. I kill a ton of drakes, but have never been pleased enough with one to stuff him.
This guy was absolutely prime. He looks average from the picture, but his head is full of white, really a nice bird.
Jeff and I decided that with the cold weather we have been seeing, and the way we got those wigeon to decoy, it would be worth it to try it again today with a flutterwing and duck decoys. I had positive expectations going into the morning, I figured we could each scrape out 2 or 3 ducks and maybe a goose in time for Jeff to get to work.
We got out there a little late due to road issues but were set up and only seeing a few ducks right at first light. Just as Jeff was about to pull his truck out, we heard incoming cacklers in the distance.. long story short they swung right over us at about 40 or 50 yards, and we both put pellets onto a fully mature snow that was mixed in. Jeff pulled his truck off and headed towards the field where it landed alone. I loaded back up and climbed in my blind. I can see honkers in the distance, and I cluck at em a little bit, but nothing. I look up and over the trees come 4 wigeon and a mallard. I hit em with a few quacks and hit the flutterwing and it is game over. They bow up and drop right into the hole about 25 yards out. Bang, Bang, a mallard and a wigeon hit the snow. Hungry wigeon decoy rather nicely. I pick up my ducks and load back up and before I know it, 3 more flocks come over the trees. I tell myself that this time, I'm going to really make sure I see a nice mature drake to pop first. The first flock swings behind me, and then I see a single fly straight over my head.. EURO! I sit up and fold him dead as a post. Out of the corner of my eye, about 15 more wigeon flare to my left. Bang bang, two more drakes hit the snow. I picked up my birds and climbed back in the blind,trying my best not to wet myself. It was 30 seconds max before I was interrupted by the sound of geese in the distance, and just like the ducks, they came over the trees straight out front. A couple quick spit moans and they lock up and and swing right in front of me about 30 yards out. I sit up and am able to drill 3 big honks. 10 minutes later, I hear a single tav off of my right side. Same routine. A couple quiver moans and he locks up and drops right in. I was able to take him at no more than 20 yards as he backwinged over the hardcores. The action slowed for about 20 minutes, when a pair of wigeon pop over the trees. These died in the exact same spot as the little tav from before. Right over the hardcores. I was done. My first double limit,and my first euro, a mature drake, in about an hour.
Jeff finally came back about 10 minutes later.. empty handed. The action had slowed, but there were still some birds moving. He always seems to get the short end of the stick due to chasing crips. Jeff is able to triple on the first flock, and pop a nice little drake on the second flock. I wont bore you guys with too many more details, I promise. After about a half hour of nothing, 20-30 more wigeon come racing over our heads. They pass again, and backwing over the goose decoys as they so love to do. Bang, bang, bang 3 wigeon hit the ground. I didnt think anything could get any better after I whacked that euro, but the last bird Jeff shot REALLY looked funny. I didnt believe my eyes at first, but he had shot him an american eurasian wigeon hybrid!
The rest of the geese came in nice flocks of about 10, and Jeff was able to pound out 4 big honkers. It was really the ultimate day for me.
