Hole shot in the work schedule....loaded the yak and headed for a morning hunt at Hullet Marsh. Loaded (guns, cloths, shells, deke bag...me) and heading out the channel to open water way before first light. Wind blowing from the west and predicted to increase through the morning. At stake, chucked dekes and waited. Pretty much into early shooting light, a group of hunters close to me begins calling...followed by a barrage of shots. To my west, I can see small groups of ducks moving. I throw a few calls out...and a group...WAAaaayyy away turns....slowly.....working towards my spread. After a bit of coaxing, the cup and land...at about 80 yards out. HAH.
Soon, after an interesting conversation with a pair of black ducks, this nice couple decide to check me out...and cup at about 50......I fire....second shot drops one. Gotta recalculate the spread and where I am located as 2 groups wanted to land away from the spread. Fortunately, I am able to relocate my shooting position to shorten the distance. Meanwhile, the group behind me has fired a few more times.
Not a lot of birds flying...but what I can see....react great to calls. Not all present opportunities, but I was pulling birds in from a long way for at least a look. Wind did pick up...and effectively blew through my area negating the chances of attracting ducks to come stay. Ended the day with 3; 1 black and 2 drake mallards.
One near miss I did have. I had my yak into the weeds/brush away from where I was standing....in a narrow strip of flooded brush with open water on both sides. Some time in the morning, I went to the yak to get a snack....and it had blown out of hiding...and fortunately, was on my side of the brush...in calmer water. IF it had gone to the other side...it would have blown away and it would have been a long walk to try get it...if I could. PHEW!
That's it, that's all.
King Joe Outa Here!
Soon, after an interesting conversation with a pair of black ducks, this nice couple decide to check me out...and cup at about 50......I fire....second shot drops one. Gotta recalculate the spread and where I am located as 2 groups wanted to land away from the spread. Fortunately, I am able to relocate my shooting position to shorten the distance. Meanwhile, the group behind me has fired a few more times.
Not a lot of birds flying...but what I can see....react great to calls. Not all present opportunities, but I was pulling birds in from a long way for at least a look. Wind did pick up...and effectively blew through my area negating the chances of attracting ducks to come stay. Ended the day with 3; 1 black and 2 drake mallards.
One near miss I did have. I had my yak into the weeds/brush away from where I was standing....in a narrow strip of flooded brush with open water on both sides. Some time in the morning, I went to the yak to get a snack....and it had blown out of hiding...and fortunately, was on my side of the brush...in calmer water. IF it had gone to the other side...it would have blown away and it would have been a long walk to try get it...if I could. PHEW!
That's it, that's all.
King Joe Outa Here!