Author: Webmaster

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

12-31-2007 10:48
– – –
Happy New Year back ‘Holic!! Streak is still intact 😉

Hunts have been slow this week. Has been a push of birds into the ABQ area to the BC refuge. Big storm up in CO. MIGHT see new birds for the new year. Then again, we MIGHT not!

Stay safe everyone.

Duckbag………..fed your recipe to a bunch of non hunters……they thought it was the best and gobbled it up. I think its the best too! Made 2lbs or so of that rub for future use. Mmmmmmmmmmm!

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

12-31-2007 10:12
– – –
Wanted to wish everyone a Happy and safe New year!!!!

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
katwon
Web Member

12-29-2007 11:13
– – –
Please amend “Sucks” to “Shucks”.

Posted By:
katwon
Web Member

Middle 12-29-2007 11:11
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Thanks, Duckbag, for the response. I was almost tempted to blow off the rest of the season, alfter all, its a long drive from Santa Fe for a couple of ducks–but naaaaa. Gotta do this while I still can. A brace would be enough. Sucks, just bein’ out would be enough. Lo and behold I ended up with six. Just goes ta show ya neva know. One GW drake, one bull, and the rest Mallards. Needed just two more and tried to pick the GH out of a bunch of three. Got him but a hen did a morning dove like swoop behind the drake and one shot did them both in. I have no big problem taking an occasional jenny, but that was the first this year. Fortunately, I have learned the folly of wearing cotton as I fell in the river for a grand finale and by the time I got back the to truck, my cuff was frozen to my watch and the rest of me was none too comfortable. This is the life. Sakes alive, I can’t understand why someone would trade real adventure for a remote.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

12-28-2007 16:44
– – –
RC
You may or may not be getting out of the cold at that time. It’s not over freezing there today and getting into the single digits at night.
You just can’t tell with the NM weather.
I wish I could help, but that’s about the deal.
DB

Posted By:
RCduckhunter
Web Member

?? 12-26-2007 18:19
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I was thinking about heading to Albuquerque the end of Jan. How warm would it be there then. I’m from Wisconsin and would be looking to get out of the cold.

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

12-25-2007 11:15
– – –
Merry Christmas to all!!!

Happy huntin..

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

12-25-2007 10:46
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It’s not you katwon; there are not a lot of ducks this year. Don’t wait for the big push, cause it ain’t gonna happen.
#’s are below the average at the BDA, so if there not there, there not anywhere.
Hunting for me was great til Dec., then it has sluffed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still killing limits, just not big mallards,
mostly wigeon for Dec.
I did however get an early X-mas present on Sunday in the form of a banded buck sprig!
If you do your scouting/homework, you can still have epic hunts.

Posted By:
katwon
Web Member

middle 12-23-2007 19:15
Cloudy, Snow & Rain Mix – 35-40 Degrees
Been working overtime and haven’t hunted much this year. Tried ’em on the Middle Friday. Flared the first bunch and wasted one shell. Two for two, greenies, and then nothing. Is it my imagination or are there less ducks down this year? I remember when the “Big Push” came about Nov 15, then it moved to after Thanksgiving, then the first 10 days of Dec–did it even happen this year?

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

North and South 12-20-2007 10:50
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Ducks–kind of hit a lull the past few weeks. Still killing ducks but the flights are smaller. Mallards still #1 in the bags. Haven’t been to the WMA’s but heard diver hunting could be good while getting peppered.

Geese- Took the wife up North for her first goose hunt. She likey!!! Killed her first goose, stayed warm and comfy, and got to see 300 or so come to the spread all at once. She thought it was “Neat”.

Merry Christmas to everyone who still visits. Guess the site is losing people heavy.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

12-18-2007 16:26
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#1 Yes you can hunt, but need to check the specific area cause a lot of it is closed to hunting.
#2 No, not worth the drive unless your into spooners, teal and wigeon.
The lake has no duck food to hold the ducks here. If the state would regulate the water a little better we’d be o.k., but the lake is dead and no cover close to the water.

Posted By:
jwold3
Supporting Member

Elephant Butte? 12-16-2007 21:37
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Can anybody inform me if hunting on Elephant Butte Res, is 1. Legal 2. Worth a 9 hour drive from Colorado

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

South 12-04-2007 08:34
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Mallard hunting continues to be good if you’re where they want to be. Groups are getting smaller but they were working to the call great. Only the U was working on my O/U so I had to take 1 out of each group. You really concentrate when you only get 1 shot!! We quit with 9 mallards for 2. Lots of Pintail flocks and Mallard/Pintail groups. We saw one nice group of teal and a group of blackjacks. That was it for other ducks.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

11-29-2007 11:25
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Seeker check out the pic in landscapes from the goose I smoked yesterday. the dry rub and mop sauce recipe are at the bottom of the page under the recipes forum. Good luck and congrats on your smackdown.
me and my partner shot 14 in two days last week at our milo fields down south. it’s really tough if you don’t have a dominant wind in which to set up in. we’ll be back there in two weekends to try them again, can’t wait.

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

North 11-28-2007 14:54
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 25-30 Degrees – Ice
Went out and wacked geese with some partners yesterday. They were flying good early and we took 10 home for 3 of us. Duckbag–you got any killer goose breast recipes?

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
30 caliber
Web Member

River by Los Lunas 11-26-2007 19:47
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – –
Absolutely no ducks this morning, even though it clouded up around 11:30. No wind to speak of.

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

11-22-2007 19:26
– – –
Just wanted to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy huntin…..

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

11-21-2007 13:29
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I hear you Duckbag.
I suppose you haven’t seen the crows they’ve been knocking down as well.
There were a small charge of Mallards in the area a week ago and I was doing good with them but they all seemed to have moved on from PB now and there’s not that much action there right now. This cold front should change things.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

South for Canadas 11-20-2007 13:20
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Tough goose hunting with no wind!, we did however manage to knock out 11 in two mornings. Weather was just freakin hot, I am glad that will be changing, we need it bad.
Hunted ducks at pena monday and it was tough as well. all the ducks that are there fly 100 yards high cause of all the skybusting, which I witnessed yesterday there! I can’t believe that these people actually think they are going to knock them down at 80 yards? oh well, they’ll get tired in awhile and hopefully quit when there wive’s wonder why they spend all that $ and come home with no ducks.
Saw these folks sail a wigeon into the bosque, of course they did not try to retrieve it, me and my dog went after it about an hour later and found him. a beautiful drake, which didn’t deserve to have a broken wing, laying in the bosque waiting to die.
Please learn the game a play it by the rules!

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

11-13-2007 14:12
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Duckbag, that’s why I don’t like PB!

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

Maxwell area 11-13-2007 10:30
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Somebody finally figured out how to hunt my hole and hunted it Sat evening, I’m sure til dark! Don’t hunt the Roost you dumb schitts! they also left soda cans, water bottles, lots of hulls and candy wrappers!
I knew something was wrong when I pulled in and no ducks were on the hole, then I dicovered the trash. I was a little POed to say ther least.
Remember, if you hunt the roost til DARK, they will NOT come back, give them at least the last half hour of light to funnel in.

Anywho, there not a lot of ducks left in the area, sounds like they all went to Seekers hole.
Hunted the river at pena yesterday, saw a few hundred ducks, but only one group of wigeons wanted to play. I think the weekend skybusters scared the hell out of them. Stayed out til noon; come on cold fronts, snow and wind!

[Edited By duckbag on 2007-11-13 10:32]

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

South 11-12-2007 16:23
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Hot today. Lots of Mallards and Gaddies around. They are weary and are making lots of passes before committing. Make a mistake and they are on to another place. Had some nice groups in today. Can’t wait for the real push to come. Action on Mallards has been good and steady considering the warm weather.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
30 caliber
Web Member

Los Lunas 11-12-2007 14:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Nothing flying on the river by Los Lunas this morning. When are we going to get a real cold front? Dog had lots of fun though.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Eastern New Mexico 11-09-2007 09:21
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
Hunted the Tucumcari area on Wed. Three guys-limits of Mallards mixed with Gadwalls. Hot and heavy at LST then really slacked off.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

Rio Del Norte 11-08-2007 19:16
– – –
They are starting to show up, just a few more but none the less. It’s amazing what a small cold front will do. shot a limit of mallards and that’s it. I’m done shootin woodies til Jan and that was the only other duck I could have taken. Nuttin but mallets and woodrows this morning before work.
I did shoot a drake Mexican mallard and was also checked by G&F. He says he’s workin it pretty hard out there, so mind your Ps and Qs if you don’t already.

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

PB 11-07-2007 20:39
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
DQ and I took the kids for their first duck hunt. The action was slow but each of the kids called in a duck to be shot and retreived by their dog ;). Mallard and a Greenwing, which was fitting for the occasion.

Weather is not great for the ducks but it is great for the kids as they were comfy catching tadpoles and slinging goo with sticks. The Redrider was a good decoy killer as DQ’s boy shot a limit.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

Maxwell area 11-06-2007 14:19
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – –
Need more ducks from the North!!
Still quite a few around, but there #’s are dropping as we continue to kill what’s left. Shot my buck sprig both days and a couple of beautiful redhead drakes. Finished limits with wigeon and gads.
Went to the river at PB on Monday and now I know why I had it all to myself. SLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWWW I did scratch out a couple of mallards and a drake woodie, they will be my dinner tonight!
Like Seeker said, COME ON COLDFRONTS!

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

South 11-05-2007 19:12
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Feels like teal season except DQ and I shot all mallards. Had the spread right today. Most of the few groups we had in were one pass and feet down in the blocks w/ no callin’. The others didn’t need much coaxing to lock up and get the FastSteel dental work. No large flocks like last 2 weeks but groups of 3-10. Not fast and furious but enough to stay interested.

Cold front in tomorrow and hopefully a few newcomers with it.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

11-05-2007 12:27
– – –
Seeker
Must have been the same guys up in PB. Beer cans and empty shells everywhere. Those guys need to be caught. Not only for that, but I don’t need my 6 yr old out there around guys like that when he’s with me.

John
good luck on your deer hunt, I’m taking my father on his hunt up north today. Should be good. I know your a good taxidermist, not sure if you still do it every now and then. But if you want bring one of those pheasants by the shop.

Duckbag
Those guys aren’t the only ones hunting ducks, I just don’t kiss and tell.

Cheers
DBercier

Hope to hunt with a few of you guys this year

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico South 11-04-2007 08:06
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
Been out a couple of times South. Mostly Woodies-few Gadwalls. Big numbers not here yet. Leaving for Deer this week and to Kansas for roosters in a few days.

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

11-03-2007 19:06
– – –
Unfortunately there were a couple of slobs who left a case of empty beer cans and bottles plus all their shells at a spot down south. We cleaned up their mess and hope they are only early season types. Wish some wardens would do some patrolling and pop guys like this more often. Guarantee they were guilty of more than drinking and hunting.

Last hunt was sloooooooow but some mallard groups did work very nice. River flow is being brought up and refuges are getting more H2O. Careful where you wade if you haven’t scouted! Birds ain’t here quite yet but the hunting has still been good so far if you are where they want to be.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

11-02-2007 16:46
– – –
DB, how was ur Deer Hunts?? Good luck this weekend.

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

11-02-2007 13:51
– – –
DQ, Seeker, NMDuck and Greenhound. we must be the only ones in NM hunting ducks. I’ve been out hunting deer in IL and MO the past couple weeks, but I’m back and ready to attack the quackers. I’ll get you updated after the weekend on the ducks up by Maxwell. Should be a fun time.

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

10-24-2007 17:28
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It was an awesome day back in town!!!! Hunted with Seeker and Duck Quest, we had an awesome mornin!!! Dog got a good work out… felt good to shoulder the Black Widow….(My Mistress)….lol 🙂

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

North 10-23-2007 18:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
New birds in town along with the ‘Holic who had a day to hunt while in town. Good day with 11 Mallards, 3 Widgeon, 2 GW, and 2 Woodies for three of us. Most birds were belly up in the decoys making for an easy day on the old dog.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
DuckQuest
Web Member

10-15-2007 18:41
– – –
We didn’t expect much today but Seeker and I somehow ended up with 3 mallards, 2 blue wings and another woody. There was no wind today but the morning was a bit colder. Not many ducks flying today. It was still better than workin. At least the skeeters weren,t out today.

[Edited By DuckQuest on 2007-10-15 18:43]

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

Maxwell area 10-15-2007 12:57
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Thought is was supposed to be a “ducky morning”, so said the weatherman, LIAR. It was hotter than snot, with no wind and we STILL killed a limit of redheads, mallards, gads, wigeons and pintail. The front was moving in and maybe that’s why we were having the activity hours before the cold and windy afternoon.
Only saw 10 canadas, so the rest must be headed down to see you JD!
My buddy shot and banded drake redhead, first he and I have ever seen. It was a juvie bird, but we’ll see where he came from.

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

10-14-2007 16:59
– – –
Congrats Seeker and Duckbag! Seek, great job with the woodies! I hope to get a few this year. Yeah this is a pretty mild October thus far. Sure hope things pick up into the season. Best of luck to all.

– Greenhound

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

10-10-2007 19:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Sunny, no wind, and skeeters buzzing everywhere. Expectations were low. A few birds moving around. We ended with 3 drake woodies, teal and widgeon. Considering weather and low activity, an ok first outing of the season for us.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

NNM, around Maxwell 10-08-2007 17:07
– – –
Very mild and windy on Sat, cooler and breezy on Sun. Duck #’s were good, prolly a couple thousand in the area. we had a great shoot both days with limits of redheads, mallards, wigeon, gads, pintails and bw teal.
3-4 other groups of hunters on the lakes, they were doin some shootin.
Heard elk buglin in the morning, saw speedgoats all over the place. Lots, well a couple hundre+ canadas in the area also.
I’m sure most of these ducks are of the local variety, can’t wait for the migration.

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

10-07-2007 19:09
– – –
So let’s here some reports from the north zone opener. Pretty warm out eh? How were the birds looking out there, any here yet?

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

10-04-2007 16:53
– – –
Yeah D, I saw that huge sucker, I might have to slide down there in pre-dawn and see if they have take-out burritos!!!
It’s in a great spot and will screw up some of the birds that lock up on my spread, but not all of them.

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

10-03-2007 12:55
– – –
Lane, I was on the west side of the river and saw someone built a real big blind on the east side right at the edge of that ladies land between the two islands.

[Edited By dbercier on 2007-10-03 12:55]

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

10-02-2007 15:46
– – –
You guys should do great from the sounds of it duckbag. I remember back in 1998 when I used to hunt that area in the early part of the sesason before it froze and it always produced. I know I don’t have to tell you that though! It sucks that there are that many ducks up there and access to them all is nearly impossible.

Thanks for the invite, wish I could make it but I gotta watch a little team called the LSU tigers eat some gator for lunch!!! Plus she has me doing things around the house before it gets too “cold”! Good luck to you guys. And I might just try to hunt with you this year at your blind if the offer is still open. I’d love to help you out with the woodies and greenheads!!

– Houndster

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

10-02-2007 13:47
– – –
Was at my PB blind yesterday, had to get it ready. Spent 2 hours clearing trees to park and get to the river. We had that big heavy snow at the end of the season last year and it dropped a lot of trees. Saw a couple hundred ducks, lots of woodies and mallards. Hopefully my blind won’t be trashed this year, it looks great right now, but we’ll see after the weekend hunters have at it. All I ask is leave it like you find it. I’ll be heading North to get away from the crowds this Sat and Sun. I can hardly stand the wait!

SHOOT EM IN THE FACE!!!!!

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

09-24-2007 11:39
– – –
Well I know where a lot of the dove are still at. I went up North this weekend and limited out on those little guys. Saw hundredes of them still up here.
Well it’s good to see everyone is filling the freezers for this winter. I was able to get my pronghorn, a cinnamon teal drake and some bluewings along with all the dove so far. I hope to get my tag filled for Elk in a couple of weeks time

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

09-21-2007 17:00
– – –
Yep!!! I have finally put elk meat in the freezer with a bow. I promised the ‘Holic I was going to take the first good opportunity I was given. So on Sept. 2nd, after a little calling and a little Fred Flinstone style sneaking, I put a Stinger through Mr. Spike’s heart. Much thanks to the ‘Holic and crew for a great camp and time. Hopefully we’ll be able to get out when your back ‘Holic. Things won’t be the same without you and your mistress in the blind each Monday.

Just got a new pup started and the old boys are tuned up. Time to switch from 4 legged critters to the ones with feathers. Hope everyone is ready.

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

09-20-2007 23:20
– – –
Hello all, hope everyone is doin well!! I’m out in Oregon on business….. but was able to sneak in a short Bow hunt for Elk…. took a small 5×6 on the last night of my hunt…. the best part of my hunt was poppin Seeker’s archery cherry!!!! It was awesome!!! I’ll let him tell his story…. 🙂 It was fun my friend!

It was an awesome hunt!!

Good luck to all on the up coming season..

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

09-18-2007 13:25
– – –
Well I guess I better say hello to everyone, it’s been a while. I won’t be able to get out for teal during the early hunt; not really worth it IMO. Doesn’t make sense to drive 180 miles RT to shoot 4 little birds. I’ll just wait until the regular season to shoot 6. Drew a deer tag too, but no pronghorn tag again this year!

Bought my TX license again this year to hunt birds in the panhandle with a farmer buddy of mine. I think TP&W has more difficulties than NMGF. It makes no sense why a non-resident can’t buy a season long out of state small game only license. They can in NM. As a non-resident I am required to buy a “special” hunting license, which covers exotics and small game. HELLO!! I don’t plan to hunt exotics. So why should I pay $144 for a season license for something I don’t plan to hunt? There are a lot of people who exclusively hunt TX for birds only! So why not offer a small game only non-resident license? Makes no sense I tell ya.

Good luck to you all the rest of teal season. I always love the gap between the end of teal season and the beginning of regular season to polish up the dekes and prep. all the gear!

Blinghound 🙂

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

La Joya Refuge 09-17-2007 22:58
Cloudy, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Finally got up the nerve to hunt La Joya for Teal. Three hunters-three limits. Not bad when there aren’t a lot of sky busters and poachers out in the marsh.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Eastern New Mexico 09-15-2007 22:31
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
Three limits of Teal(Blues and Greens) for three shooters way East. Calm winds didn’t help a lot as the birds weren’t moving much.
Great just to get out. Maybe the rain predicted for the first of the week will stir things up a little.

Posted By:
Mr Drake
Guest

09-13-2007 13:41
– – –
“Hey” Duane, and Lane,

Been too busy with the ranch and the slave yard to even go dove hunting. Our chili fields are crazy with dove. i’ve got to go pick up chili today maybe i’ll get the dog and my 20.

We took a 370 Bull off our place the other day! Hope one will still be there when i get to go.

The bucks, and Bulls are HUGE this year.

There is a good number of birds in the lake already.

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

09-11-2007 10:51
– – –
Monty I still need to get you your birds
Lane did you get your big 6×6 yet?

[Edited By dbercier on 2007-09-11 10:53]

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

09-11-2007 10:35
– – –
That is a strong possibility Monty. How you doing, is everything looking good down your way? Rick was there this past weekend doing a little scouting and shooting doves and says all looks pretty good from his perspective. He did not go out in the boat though.

Posted By:
Mr Drake
Guest

09-10-2007 23:37
– – –
Duckbag,

I don’t think anybody lives here anymore !

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

09-05-2007 14:45
– – –
IT WON”T BE LONG NOW!!!!!!!!, hope to bag my elk this weekend so I can get after some early teal.
Everybody ready for this year?, new blinds built or refurbished, new spots, new guns, plenty of ammo. Looks like we’ll have plenty of ducks.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico 07-08-2007 07:51
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – Over 70 Degrees
The proposed Waterfowl regs and Upland regs with adjusted dates are now on the NM Game & Fish website. They are probably very close to what will be adopted by the Commission. Not many changes except for dates,which were changed to adjust to calendar dates. Crane hunters will get a few extra slots.
Not a good sign. Many Field Editors have abandoned this site. Come on guys! Step up to the plate and make this site better.

[Edited By John-Prentice on 2007-07-08 07:51]

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico 06-22-2007 20:49
Arctic Blast – Over 70 Degrees
Way to go “Duck Bag” check out the Grulla Ridge area on the east side of your unit. I killed a nice bull just south of the UU Bar Fence to the east of Grulla Ridge. I’ll just go after the grey bullets on Sept.1 if I still have money for high price gas.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

06-22-2007 11:16
– – –
I got lucky and drew my elk and deer bow tags this year in the Angel Fire area. For the 5th straight year I did not draw a archery speedgoat tag???? Give me a break, you think we can actually kill one of those darn things with a stick and string. It is a hell of a lot of fun trying though.
I am fortunate to get the tags I got.

Way to go G&F, you made NM look like a bunch of waterheads 4or5yrs in a row now.If they would only higher a 4th grader to set up there site, we’d be in much better shape.

[Edited By duckbag on 2007-06-22 11:19]

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico 06-20-2007 20:31
Arctic Blast – Froze Out
I spent the bigger part of Wed. trying to find out about Big Game Draw. Game & Fish Computer overloaded with inquiries. Finally got on at 7:00 in the evening to be disappointed but not surprised. Did not draw for Elk or Antelope. I did draw for Deer and Javelina. There is always next year.

[Edited By John-Prentice on 2007-06-20 20:31]

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New MExico 06-19-2007 16:40
Arctic Blast – Froze Out
Hey! Guys. Tomorrow is lucky draw day. I have heard that Gamd & Fish are having problems with the draw. So what else is new. Good Luck and may you have the luck of the Irish and draw the hunts of your hearts desire.

[Edited By John-Prentice on 2007-06-19 16:41]

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Oklahoma Panhandle 04-29-2007 18:24
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Just got back from Oklahoma Panhandle yesterday. Hunted near Kenton,Oklahoma on private ranch. Got the Merriam’s gobbler that I was after. The Tom weighed 22lbs and had short beard(4-5 inch) and nubbin spurs. Seems the rocks in the area wear them down. Saw a Bobcat and Coyote try to catch a Turkey but ended up with rabbits. Saw a ton of Elk on the Oklahoma side of the border-Oklahoma Game & Fish is in denial-they have no Elk. If they admit that Elk are present then they would have to start paying depredation money to the ranchers. Also saw a herd of RM Bighorn Sheep. I would never guessed that there were wild sheep on the Black Mesa. Had a great hunt. Only bird I’m missing for my “Oklahoma Slam” is the Eastern Turkey and I’ll go after that next year. Oklahoma is one of the rare states that has three species of Wild Turkeys. They have the Eastern,Rio’s and Merriam’s.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Western Oklahoma 04-14-2007 14:02
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 35-40 Degrees
Hey! Guys, I could have done without the cold blast and wettnes from the West. Some buddies of mine took two big toms yeserday during the height of the storm. The turkeys are being quiet but should perk up now that the storm is passing and the sun starting to peak through. I’m saving my other tag form a Merriam’s gobbler in the Panhandle at the end of April.

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

04-13-2007 16:58
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Congrats on all of your success, John. Wouldn’t a camera been great to try and capture what the coyote was doing? Glad we could send you some WEATHER. Al

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Western Oklahoma 04-12-2007 18:47
Cloudy, High Winds – –
I’m back in the Sooner State for a few days chousing the “Long Beards”.They have liberalized the Turkey regs a little. You can now bag three toms during the season. You can take two toms in one day in certain counties,which I did on Wednesday. Big tom,weighed 22 lbs-10 inch beard-3/4 inch spurs. The other bird was a large jake,weighing 19 lbs,short beard and only one nubbin spur. The whole troop came marching over the hill to my decoys and calling. When I went to check out the jake,I turned around to the gobble of the big tom. I nailed the big one,only to turn around to see another tom beating the daylights out of the downed jake. I went to get my truck to load up my gear and as I returned,there was another tom doing a number on my jake decoy-all was quite hilarious. I have a better story to top that one off. I was out after my third tom(you must have seperate tag for each bird). At about 6:45 this morning(Thursday),I was sitting well hidden near where some birds were strutting yesterday,when I heard a growl and noticed a black looking,mangy yote pounce on my hen decoy. He grapped her and took off,however,he wasn’t fast enough for a 3 1/2 load of 2 1/2 ounce load of
lead 4’s,rolled his butt. My hen decoy now sports several tooth holes from the wily coyote. I have had coyotes grab Snow Goose decoys on Bosque del Apache before bit never a turkey
I may wait to take another turkey as a friend has invited me to hunt Merriam’s in the Panhandel in a couple of weeks. Weather forecast is for bad storms over the weekend which will preclude any more turkey hunting for the weekend.

[Edited By John-Prentice on 2007-04-12 18:49]

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico 04-04-2007 12:34
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 60-65 Degrees
Randy Marci! I hate to see you leave the site. You could become another State Field Editor and get a free membership for the year. Seems like everyone is bailing out.

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

03-30-2007 22:20
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Randy… there will be many more to come my friend!!

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

03-29-2007 09:33
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Al, i always enjoy your account of how things happened. there is more to duck hunting than just killing. after enduring 24 long seasons, i’m starting to realize this. still got a long way to go though. i just want to say to those on here i have met and had the pleasure to share a blind with, Thanks. my first season in new mexico was awesome. my membership for this site expires shortly and i will not be renewing. there are alot of free sites i frequent alot more and only come here about once a week or so. so with this, i bid farewell. good luck to all of ya and most of you already know how to get ahold of me if need be.

Randy Marci

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

03-28-2007 16:54
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A Miserable Day But Fun!

You have to be a nut to say in one breath that it was miserable but fun! I guess I qualify probably more so than the average duck hunter or at least that is what my wife thinks.
This morning it was 14 degrees when I left the house to go hunting. I didn’t realize how cold it was until I began sitting in the blind for a while. A hot cup of coffee only temporarily helps in this kind of situation and I did have my fair share this morning.
At first light I had a pair of mallards come in and I swore that I took the drake but it was a hen. The first word out of my mouth was, “Damn!”, because I missed the second mallard. The ice was thick enough to make it just flat out miserable today. Chili was just heavy enough to break through and the water was just deep enough that I couldn’t step down upon it. Thus, my shins took a beating and it was a chore to say the least.
After Chili found the first bird I ended up waiting about 15 minutes when a lone greenhead came in—-flaps fully extended. That was an easy shot. I watched my pup as she constantly had to break ice to get to the downed drake. When she got back to the blind, she immediately started to lick herself.
The bad thing about this morning was the fact that there were so few ducks and it was hard to sit there, rationalizing why I should be staying. It seemed like an awfully long time when finally I heard the quack of a hen mallard. I watched her fly far overhead and I knew it was time to go home because I thought this——if she comes back, she’s dead. She came back. I was now sitting there in the blind with two hens and a greenhead and starting to shake because of the cold.
It was time for another cup of coffee and that always seems to help bring a positive note to things especially this morning. As I sat there sipping and going “AHHH” in came three gadwalls. I dropped the cup out of my hands and grabbed my Nova, just in time to fire a quick round at the trailing drake gadwall. It dropped like a stone and that brought a smile to my whiskered face. When Chili brought it back and gave it to me, it was then that I found out why it dropped like a rock. I had shot a perfect hole out of the top part of its head. Thank goodness I hit the head instead of the body. I knew those ducks were close but this was a lot closer than I thought.
Well, things started to warm up just because of the fact that it was now 90 minutes into the season and the sun was up. I poured a fresh cup of coffee into the dirty cup that had been tossed onto the pallet. Chili was once again licking herself down when I happened to see her give that fixed gaze look. I followed it and sure enough saw four mallards coming in to have a look at the spread. As they got closer I saw that there were two pairs. They sure did want to come in and as they had their wings cupped flying from left to right and coming down, I put my bead on the first drake. I followed him for a second or so and waited until he got to a perfect spot for me to pull the trigger. I wanted him to drop in the open and not in the cattails. As he got to that magic spot, the other drake flew down and within inches of the first one. That is when I pulled the trigger on the Benelli.
I love shooting Scotch doubles and this was no exception. Both birds CRUMPLED, and I mean CRUMPLED in mid air and then plummeted to the ice laden marsh.
Chili had her work cut out once again. Today there was no wild dashing out into the marsh to retrieve ducks. It was a very slow and methodical retrieving machine that was doing the best she could with the given environment she was working in.
With the six ducks in the sled and breaking ice all over again to get out of the marsh, we headed back towards the four-wheeler so that we could get to the truck. I could have kissed the GMC’s heater when I finally got inside!
I guess I must be one of those crazy duck hunters because today sure was miserable, but, boy, was it fun!!!!!
Al

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

03-18-2007 09:32
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come on september…….was out yesterday with the family and saw large groups of ducks still around. lots of ringnecks, gaddy, and wigeon. few mallard and woody’s mixed in.

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

03-18-2007 07:09
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Less than half a year until teal season. Al

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

03-16-2007 06:56
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Only a half a year until teal season. Al

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

02-28-2007 09:54
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thanks for the info. it saved me a 2 hour drive each way.

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

02-28-2007 07:08
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Randy, the last couple of times that I have been cutting firewood in the bosque, I have seen what appears to be migrating flocks. The sandhill cranes, minus great grandpa or great grandma—-Hey, Dwayne which one was it that you shot?—-have been flying north. I did see a huge flock of snows yesterday but they seemed to be on a mission. The birds seemed to stay more on the refuge this year than any previous year.I guess with all the additional acreage that BDA has planted and or flooded has kept the birds right where they are. I haven’t talked with anyone who has been shooting any. Al

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

02-27-2007 19:08
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al, any snows down that way still?

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

02-27-2007 07:08
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Lane, the next time I see a truck pulling an enclosed 16′ tandem axle trailer, might it be yours stuffed to the gills with decoys? I’ll bet anything that someday you will be ordering more full body Canadas!
Got a kick out of that gene pool duck that Jonathan shot. Al

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

02-23-2007 11:00
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10 year old mallard, glad you got him out of the genepool JD! think of all the crap he learned every year and passed on to his young.

Gentlemen,
I am selling 48 Greenhead Gear Canada Goose shells (standard size) with flocked heads. One year old and in great condition.
Also 24 two year old Canada silos, in great shape with silo bag.

Make me an offer and we’ll go from there!

send e-mail to cookhuntfish@aol.com
or pm me

[Edited By duckbag on 2007-02-23 11:01]

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

02-22-2007 20:57
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I received all my band certificates back of the three canadas and the mallard I shot this past season. The geese all came from CO, Walden, San Pablo, and Coalmont to be specific.

The mallard came from Broadview, MT, about 30 miles NW of Billings. He was banded in 1997, so that is certainly the oldest banded bird I have shot. Of course, it can’t compare with the centennial crane Bercier shot, but I’ll take it!

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

02-11-2007 21:48
– – –
Had a great DU banquet in Clovis last night. One of the best banquets I’ve been to in a while. Of course, the banquets are for high spenders, I can’t afford much more than the ticket in, but I had a good time, met some new folks, and saw some old friends.

Out of the 100 or so folks that were at the banquet I never heard anyone say anything about this website. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

The DU regional director told me a certain man in blue won two nice guns at the Socorro banquet a few nights ago! Congrats!

Oh and the three banded canadas I shot two weeks ago came from CO, just as I suspected. Walden, San Pablo, and Coalmont.

[Edited By Greenhound on 2007-02-11 22:15]

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

02-11-2007 10:14
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jon, i looked at it and it looks like a mix of that “brush” camo and a max 4. i like it personally for some of the spots i frequent.