Category: New Mexico

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
– – –
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
– – –
Randy… there will be many more to come my friend!!

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

03-29-2007 09:33
– – –
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
– – –
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
– – –
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
– – –
Less than half a year until teal season. Al

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

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

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

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

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

02-28-2007 07:08
– – –
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
– – –
al, any snows down that way still?

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

02-27-2007 07:08
– – –
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
– – –
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
– – –
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
– – –
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.

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

02-07-2007 16:49
– – –
How about that new Mossy Oak Duck Blind camo? I think it’s the pattern to beat!

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

02-07-2007 00:45
– – –
Dbercier did you ever get the info. back on where that crane was banded? I’m really eager to learn where cranes are banded.

I got my band back from the mallard I shot in northern NM at Thanksgiving. I sent it to the bird band lab in MD and they were able to etch and raise two of the numbers that were worn off. A certificate should be here soon.

– Greenhound

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

02-05-2007 06:46
– – –
Well, duckbag, after Hester scored on the opening kickoff return, were you sucking air or screaming? Were you cussing? Bev and I were thinking about you while we watched the game and by the way, we did enjoy the heck out of it. I am still trying to figure out how Brian Urlacher and the rest of the Bear’s defense, did as well as they did considering the total amount of time that they spent on the field.
Oh, by the way, did you know that in just 221 days, teal season will begin. Can hardly wait.
Good luck with your spring turkey hunts. Al

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

02-02-2007 13:01
– – –
Randy,

I’m headed to TX to hunt snows with the Farmboy this weekend, hopefully. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do on schoolwork. I don’t want to miss out, he says there are thousands there and we are going to try to get about 10 guys to hunt. He has been seeing a few neck collars out there too. Good luck if you get out.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Land of Enchantment 02-02-2007 11:34
Arctic Blast – 35-40 Degrees
Just a heads up. The deadline for applications-Depradation Oryx-on and off the White Sands-Turkey etc is Saturday,February 3. Don’t let this slip by.

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

02-02-2007 11:28
– – –
jon, congrats on all the iron.
seek, that day with the giant flock of mallards was awesome for sure. see you sunday.
tomorrow i’m off to chase whitey in one of the fields i’ve got permission. don’t even know if they are back using it again, but went stir crazy this week with nothing to hunt. anyone else chasing snows, good luck.

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

02-01-2007 23:13
– – –
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement Al. It was great seeing you and working with you banding ducks, I really had a blast.

I just want you all to know I appreciate the small community we have here. It may not seem like much, but we have a close connection. It would be good to share the blind with some of you sometime. Next year maybe we can work it out. Best of luck in the off season.

– Greenhound

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

02-01-2007 11:54
– – –
Ended the season with a fizzle. We got a few Mallards and Greenwings. Packed up @ 10:30. On the hike out I hear widgeon behind me and turn around to watch 50 or so pile into where we set up. Never fails.

I did get to report 2 banded geese yesterday. While out with my daughter we came across a couple of park geese with bands. They posed nicely for the zoom and I was able to get full numbers off the bands. They were from Colorado in 2004 and 2005. Maybe Ghound will get them next year!!

Overall, this was another good year.
HIGHS–
The earlier season was the best in recent memory. We got into geese multiple times after the first day of the MRGV season–with bands. Made new friends. Bagged 15 different species of waterfowl. Had a blast every day out. 100+ Robbers cupped and whistling to the decoys. 100+ Canada’s cupped and honking to NO decoys. Marci working a big flock of Mallards. Zekes submarine retrieve on a diving Canada. Never once got crowded or had to deal with idiots.

LOW’s-
Didn’t get that mounter Woody–and had several opportunities! Lost 5 birds in the cattails–most in years. Vet bills. Leaking waders suck. 60 pounds of gear on your back.

Rio Rancho DU Banquet is Saturday, February 17th at Garduno’s on the Green in Balloon Fiesta Park. DU 70th Anniversary. If anyone is interested PM me.

Time to for R&R and next years planning.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
flagger
Guest

01-31-2007 19:16
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well the season and all its weather folies is now over in the southern part of the state,now a month of honeydos. Debercier, i will be contacting you in the next few weeks for this years mount, my brother in law and i should have a few. thank you, d miller

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

01-31-2007 15:23
– – –
Jonathan,
Anyone who has been as lucky as you, should have the right to write about taking banded birds. We just won’t let anyone know that you hunt on the eastern side of the state—OK? Congrats, young man! Best of luck to you while hunting in Texas. Al

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

01-31-2007 11:13
– – –
Well we got in one last goose hunt yesterday morning. Myself and three friends from TX headed to the goose field and had a pretty good shoot. We had four limits of canadas by 0800, 16 geese on the ground. Best part is 3 more were banded. So since Saturday, and in three days of hunting, two guys two days and four guys yesterday shot 27 canadas and 8 were banded.

I assume they all came from CO, as the band number series were all the same as what we shot last year. Since last January, that is 19 banded birds that came off the fields I hunt. I know, I shouldn’t have written that but the odds really seem to be rare that should have happened. I know it was luck, I just hope it continues.

Good luck to all you snow goose chasers. I am headed to TX this weekend for the end of their dark goose season. It will be different shooting 3 and 4 lb. canadas but it should be fun.

– Greenhound

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

01-30-2007 11:32
– – –
Well, we hunted the last four days and had a blast, although our goose hunting expectations fell short. Which is rare at the spot we hunt. We stayed there for two days and killed 8 big boys, cou[ple mallards and 1 bull sprig.
Hunted the next two days at the lake and put the hurting on the GW teal. Only two mallards were killed in those two days, the rest were GW’s.
Well, it’s time to chase quail for a few weeks, whatever is left in the state. then turkey hunting will be here for April and May! June, July and August are the hardest months for me, they just seem to draaaaaaag.

Take care and have a great off-season.

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

01-28-2007 23:37
– – –
Wow, where do I start. Well Friday morning, because of Desert Drake’s connections, I helped band some birds in the MRGV. That was the experience of a lifetime. I would like to thank the men in blue and the men and women in brown that tought me a lot that day. Corkin it, you have a nice family and Zach had a blast. What a great time!

Saturday morning a buddy from TX teamed up with me down south and we found the woodies. I’m sure there were at least 100 woodies that came into our slough, it was amazing. We finished the morning with one bird shy of two limits, we ended up with four woodie drakes, five greenheads, a suzie, and a gorgeous widgeon drake. It was certainly a way to end the duck season.

That afternoon we did a goose hunt. We had about four dozen silhouettes out, and that was the key. We only shot three, but they were toads, two were around 12-13 lbs., and Farmboy shot his first banded canada goose.

This morning was the icing on the cake. We set up in the same field, and we were limited by 0740. The birds worked perfectly, we ended up with eight huge canadas and four more were banded! That’s five banded canada geese in 24 hours. It was an unbelievable time, I just wish it could have been videotaped!

We might be stretching our luck a little far, but we are going to try again Tuesday morning.

– Greenhound
“Know Your Birds”

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

01-28-2007 23:28
– – –
Nice job again this year Jon!!!

Just a note the outdoor show is on the 9th – 11th of Feb at the state fair grounds. See you guys there.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico 01-28-2007 09:53
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
I have a suggestion for you hunters who post on here all the time. How about stepping up and volunteering to be a “State Editor”. You get a free year to year membership to boot. I noticed that the other state editor has chosen not to continue for some reason. I don’t hunt a lot in New Mexico anymore but do try to keep up posts about dates and rules changes.

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

01-27-2007 15:37
– – –
Jonathan—-congrats on the Scotch double with the two woodie drakes. As for the three greenheads and drake widgeon, you had to be in duck hunting heaven this morning. I’m glad you know where the big boys are. All I am seeing is GWT’s and I have to admit that I am thankful to be able to shoot a few of them. Take care.
Jake—-You just can’t imagine the fun I had taking pictures of your two kids as they released banded pintails, spoonies, and GWT’s. What great kids and hard working ones. I’ll be sending you some pictures. I think that Jonathan took some of them also. Al

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

01-25-2007 05:30
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It seems worse when you figure that there are less than 96 hours——-Al

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

01-24-2007 10:08
– – –
Leaving tonight for a 4 day goose and duck blow-em-up. Fingers crossed that there still there after all this weather. I’ve heard some bad reports from buddies down South that the birds have left, hopefully they’ll be back with a good weather weekend?

Good luck to all on this last weekend. Damn that was hard to say!

SHOOT EM IN THE FACE!!!

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

01-20-2007 04:01
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Duckaholic—-I will try to get out this afternoon, then on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I will be hunting. Yes, I will get out after them. Good luck to you. Al

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

All over 01-19-2007 11:43
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NMDuckaholic give me a call one of these evenings

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

01-18-2007 21:37
– – –
headed out this a.m. with one thing in mind…..ducks. well after one heck of a long wasted trip we found some birds on the way home. 3 guys 18 mixed ducks and 1 honker. i am beat.

Posted By:
NMDuckaholic
Guest

South 01-18-2007 15:22
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Yes sir… we had a blast this past week! DB, congrats on your banded Pin tail….:-) we got a lil bling of our own this week! season is coming to an end soon .. 🙁 Hope everyone get’s to get out!!!

NMDuckaholic

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

The River 01-17-2007 22:10
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Headed out again with the posse +1. Slow day today. Nickel and dimed our way to 23 ducks and 3 honkers. Honkers came in on a string to calling. Nice sized flock. Not many Mallards moving or Widgeon. Shot a bunch of grey ducks, teal, some Pinnies, a couple Mallards and a drake Merg.

Another good time and the dog is worn out. Hope this storm coming doesn’t move out a bunch of birds.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

01-16-2007 18:58
– – –
MLK day I tried my luck at some banded canadas this weekend but to no avail. Did a morning hunt on one of my fields. The canadas definitely showed up but I wasn’t where they wanted to be. I only had out two dozen shells, had about 40-50 birds fly over me about 60 yds. up in several different groups. First group I let pass, thinking they would hook around and land into the wind–they didn’t even give me a second look. Second group same scenario, but I figurd out their pattern so I shot and took one out. Next group, I feathered one. And that was it. I waited until about 0800 and split for the afternoon to go see what field they were sitting on.

I also checked on one of my blinds that I haven’t hunted since opening day and the road in and the blind itself have been heavily used and abused. That blind produced a lot of ducks and cranes the four years that I hunted it. But word got out and the slobs showed up. It truly amazes me the lack of care some hunters show. The blind was trashed, I counted about 100 spent hulls, the fence was cut, and the frame on the blind was destroyed. But there is nothing I can do. Sucks. And hunters wonder why other hunters are so tight lipped about their spots. I’ve been a member of this website since 1999 and actively since 2002. I never post where I hunt.

I found the canadas, a few thousand were right out in the middle of a barley field about 5 miles south of where I was hunting. I know the farmer and he doesn’t let anyone else hunt his fields. He lets the birds pile up then a firing line of about 10-15 guys go out and unload. In the meantime no one else gets a shot at the birds on adjacent fields because he does not hunt them on a consistent basis. Nice game plan, real considerate:(

Anyway checked out my woodie hole and it’s holding a lot of squealers and mallards. I plan to get back over there this weekend. No one hunts this spot so it should be great!

Finished the day with another canada back on my field. The birds just were not interested in this usually consistent field.

DB glad to hear about your banded pintail. That is one I’m waiting on. Dbercier I’m also waiting to shoot a banded crane! Congrats.

Know Your Birds–Greenhound

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

01-16-2007 17:28
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Duckbag, sounds like a nice time. i’m headed that way on thursday, so i’ll let you know if the birds are back around. that blue phase ross is considered by the smithsonian to be 1 in 1,000,000. they took a buddy of mines 2 years ago and actually paid to have it mounted just to get the carcas for study purposes. congrats to all on the recent bling and ………’holic and dq, your welcome 😉

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

all over 01-16-2007 15:59
– – 0-10 Degrees – Ice
FRI and SAT, field goose hunting at our spot out East. 12 honkers, 7 ross’s, and 7 mallards. My buddy shot a mature blue-phase ross on FRI, after it had been cleaned we find out that this is a very rare bird?
I hunted SUN and MON down south at the lake and it’s still all teal and pintails with a few mallards around. Shot my first banded pintail ever and it had nasty “rice breast”
Had a great hunt on Sunday with Desert Drake and Chile at there private club. One of these days I’m gonna have a private club!!!

Congrats to the honker virgins! and bling to go with it??? Your all hooked forever!

I believe this weather has pushed out some of our fowl. Most of our geese left on Fri afternoon. We only saw a 1/4 of them on Sat and the rancher called me today and told me there are none there right now. Hopefully it’s only a few day thing and they’ll come back.

Sampsom, I never said anything about giving out the location of your SPOT. I just said this state site was dragging ass, with only a few of us posting. It’s looks like it’s on the road to recovery right now. There are a bunch of mallards somewhere in our state and we now have 12 days to find them.

SHOOT EM IN THE FACE#!!!

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico 01-16-2007 12:50
Arctic Blast – Froze Out
Ditto! rmarci hit it on the head. I was one of the first New Mexico Field Editors. I faithfully posted places to hunt ducks and the next time I went out there would be a ton of guys taking over that place. I innocently took a guy I considered a close friend to one of my favorite spots and the next weekend he couldn’t hunt with me. So when I arrived at the spot,there he was with 4 of his buddies. That ended that friendship in a hurry. Most guys are tight lipped for that very reason. If you have a good spot,better not divulge it or kiss it goodbye. Went out yesterday. Any self-respecting quacker was holed up and trying to stay warm.

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

01-16-2007 10:25
– – –
Just got back from Mexico on Friday and was successful on my Coues deer hunt. Turned around and went out on Saturday with all my buddies for our Sandhill Crane hunt and ended up with a banded Crane. So far this year is starting out good. Lets just hope it stays this way.

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

The River 01-15-2007 23:19
Sunny & Clear, Morning Fog – 0-10 Degrees – Open Water
The final assault of the year has begun. With 2 weeks left in the season, the ‘Holic, DQ and I struck out to the 1 Hole. Now the 1 Hole is the preferred hole–errr—for the late season.(Get ur minds out of the gutter gentlemen.) With the cold air come more ducks.

Temp gage on the truck was at 9 degrees as we assembled the gear. Waders had to go in the back of the truck, so we started off chilled right away. Planned on an early arrival with the holiday, but could have slept in for another hour. Everything set up and brushed up, including 2 video cameras. The dog has a gastro problem that burns DQ’s nose. The early blind banter starts as the darkness begins to fade.

LST and here come the honkers. Two dozen in a string. We hurry to switch from steel to tungsten. I fumble and drop my shells on the ice at my feet. Just as I get them tubed and lock the breach they are on us. The ‘Holic and DQ open up on a species they have never harvested. Each folds a Canada with salvo’s of $2 shells. Me, I get nothing but air and I am out 4 bucks. The dog makes quick work of the first bird and I hand it to the ‘Holic. BANDED!!! The second bird comes to DQ’s hand–BANDED!!! The boys pop their cherry on banded honkers. The duck gods ARE crazy. Half a dozen tungsten loads-$12—capturing DQ and the ‘Holic whoopin’ it up on video–priceless.

Over the next few hours we move on to whacking ducks–Teal, Mallards, Widgeon, Pintail and Gadwall make up the bag. No huge flights but the tempo keeps us on our toes. DQ makes another investment and collects another honker. Me, I’m out another $8. I put the wad through a Greenwings cranium today–just couldn’t do jack on a big, fat, and slow goose! Can you say CHOKE! I shot geese today like Tony Romo handles snaps.

Anyhow, we ended the day with 18 quackers, 3 honkers and a new sickness for DQ and the ‘Holic. Honker Fever.

‘Fowling is good right now.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

01-15-2007 22:09
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samson, if you are shootin your limits all the time, why do you need help? it has nothing to do with being in a “click” it has to do with the extra hundred plus people that lurk here for spots to kill stuff. most people will not post public spots on a public forum. it’s nothing personal. just the cold hard truth that good spots are hard to come bye. especially anything within that hour and a half circle of albucrackie.
on a side note, been out the last few days to mixed results. does anyone else feel we might have had too much weather?

Posted By:
samsonbirddog
WFC Sponsor

01-14-2007 15:55
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DUCKBAG is right you guys suck everything is colsed to the outsiders. not in the click then you know nothing !!!! I shoot my limits all the time in this state. I have tried posting reports here. You never get anything back! I have even said were i was shooting but nothing back. I have asked for reports on the north end of the butte get nothing! what a waste of time!

Posted By:
Greenhound
Web Member

01-12-2007 15:51
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Welcome back Desertdrake. I have been a stranger too this waterfowl season. I am hoping to head out this afternoon and get in a weekend of good hunting.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico occasionally 01-10-2007 08:20
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Ice
As for Field Editors not posting-I just got back from waterfowl trip to the Sooner state. I was worn out from shooting ducks. Eight days-eight limits. Talk about shooting them in the lip. We had birds at 15 yds. Shooting low base 1 oz 6’s and tearing them to pieces. Will try to get out next week depending on the new storm. Not much fun fighting the crowds when you can have a shoot all to yourself. Most days we limited within 15 minutes.

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

Duck landing zone 01-09-2007 13:07
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
The ‘Holic and I were out this a.m. Widgeon wacking at its’ finest. Also got some teal, gaddy and mallard. Everything died in the decoys or the jungle. We were sitting at 11 birds when we had 100+ widgeon go feet down for the decoys. It was a shame to fire a single shot with that big a group so close in! Oh well, I picked out a drake and hammered him.

Lots of birds moving of the puddling variety. Didn’t see another hunter. Birds were still locking in after we pulled the spread. Gotta love January in NM during the week.

Been out chasing deer or we woulda put something in sooner.

Call’em, Kill’em, Let the Dog Get’em.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

01-09-2007 10:50
– – –
Boy, this state site is really sucking hind these past couple months.
Is it just a lurker thing here in NM?
We don’t here crap from our “Field Editors” on duck movements. Nothing.

Well, I’ll just keep posting. Had a great Sunday and Monday down south on the lake. No mallards??, there hiding somewhere? Lots of teal and divers around, and lots of pinnies.

I would assume that what we have now is all were going to get til the end of the season.
Going out this weekend for Canadas and hopefully a few ducks.

SHOOT EM IN THE FACE!!!

Heading to

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

Rio del Norte 01-04-2007 15:35
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Darn COLD!, -5 degrees yesterday morning. The ducks are froze out of there lake and ponds and are on the river, which made two great hunting days.
The roads to the river are bad and you have to walk the last 200 yards with all your gear to get there. The trees are down all over the place, which made for a tough time.
North season almost over, so get out there and bang’em.

Heading south for the rest of the season, were down to the last 24 days.

SHOOT EM IN THE FACE!!

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

fields of enchantment 01-04-2007 08:26
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 35-40 Degrees
hunted yesterday afternoon for what we have since titled “kill whitey-volume 1” a buddy and i decided to chase them snows and ross’ and see what we could do to help out the tundra. well it turned into the most sucessful light goose hunt i have been on. we got set at about 2:30PM and waited. it took all of about 5 minutes till 3 ross dove into the spread. none left. for the next 2 hours ross mostly and 2 snows fell to the report of 12 guages. when the dust cleared we had 29 down. i got my first neck collar with a leg band and my partner got a leg band with the last ross we picked up. my bird was banded in Nunavut Canada in august of 05. that’s way up almost to greenland. wow, these birds sure do make a trip every year. gonna let ’em rest and back to them on sunday afternoon.

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

01-03-2007 08:46
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with the new year, comes the same frustrations. in the birds thick one day, gone the next. it sure oes make for a good time though when you figure out the why’s and where’s. i do, however, need a little help from fellow posters and or lurkers.
as many know i will never divulge the spots i hunt on an open forum. that being said i will tell this spot as it is not a real secret and or honey hole. on monday, 1/1/07, a buddy had gone north from the los lunas bridge toward the isleta border. he parked his white ford plenty far enough off the side of the road and went out hunting. when he returned to his truck, he found that another hunter had slid into the side of it and had broken off the mirror and tail light and dented in the bed pretty good. this other “hunter”, see slob, decided to just pick up the pieces and put them in the back of my buddies truck. if anyone knows anything about this, i would appreciate a p.m. now i know there wasn’t much the guy could have done. but he could have at least left a note with contact info.
hope everyone has a good new year and i’m gettin ready to load up and head out for the afternoon.

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Western Oklahoma 12-31-2006 13:41
Cloudy, Snow Flurries – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Went to old standby pond this a.m. and at LST were swarmed by Gadwalls. Nephew and I took two limits in about 15 minutes. It is fun but over with too quick. Snowing like the dickens but birds came in without a hitch. Almost too easy. One more day and then back to the Land of Enchantment. Have to work for a few days and then back afer the quackers again.

Posted By:
desert drake
Guest

12-31-2006 00:50
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Happy New Year’s to all of you. Please be careful when hunting the Rio from now on until the end of the season. With all of the snow that we have been getting, the river should be at unusually high levels making it very dangerous.
Chili and I continue to have fun when it comes to duck hunting. Lord only knows how much I love this sport.
My new spot continues to produce ducks that makes every hunt there special beyond belief. One of the highlights for this season so far was being able to take “duckbag” out and share the blind with him. It was just plain fun.
Bev and I just returned from the Upper Midwest, Wisconsin in particular, and it is rather frightening how warm it is up there. Milwaukee had areas where the Canadas were landing on green grass lawns to eat. There is much open water and only one small area of the state that had some accumulated snow. In fact, there is more snow here than anywhere up there.
Be careful everyone and my wish for you is that 2007 will be special. Make it count. Al Hansen

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

12-29-2006 17:28
– – –
Monty
give me a call 321-8536

Dbercier

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

Western Oklahoma 12-28-2006 18:05
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
I gave up on ducks in New Mexico and headed to old stomping grounds from childhood days in Western Oklahoma. Shot the daylights out of quackers in several varieties. It is so much fun to decoy hunt on upstream flood impoundments. Not a bunch of yahoos poaching off of your decoy spread like they do on the Rio south of Albuquerque. It was quite windy and the ducks would set up for landing from way out. Just a matter of being patient and letting the birds work in for attempted sit downs. A week of hunting here is more fun than a whole season in the Land of Enchantment.”Go Sooners”.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

12-23-2006 11:32
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chrisc99,
I’m not wanting to start anything, you have a great spot up there to hunt. I know I heard at least 50 shots that morning, maybe you had some guys to the North of you????
As for your kids, put some camo netting around them like a blanket, or just some dull colors. I watch the ducks flare up that way almost all the time. When they see that, then nobody in the area will have a chance. There definately seeing something they don’t like and Im sure it’s not your dekes, they look fine.
Your more than welcome to hunt the blind where I’m at, it’s pretty big and would be nice for the kids. I usually only hunt it Mon-Wed.

Merry X-Mas to all and may you shoot lots of ducks!!

I’m gonna head your way Monty, maybe this Tuesday. I’ll try calling you.

[Edited By duckbag on 2006-12-23 11:34]

Posted By:
Mr Drake
Guest

New Mexico 12-22-2006 21:55
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Have limited on Ducks every time that i have gone out. Had to stop for ten days for dogs stitches to heel.

New Gator trax Hide is the deal.

Over 360 snows/Ross for us so far for the season, best is yet to come.

Three Monster Mulies from New Mexico, Colorado, and Montana Smallest was 27″ 10 point.

It has been a great year so far!

Duane when is the due date on the mounts?

Headed back to colorado in January, Unit 20 Elk Estes Park area.

Duckbag, Glad to hear that the canada spot is still available to you and Rick.
I may end up with 25,000+ acres over there.

Merry Christmas !

Posted By:
chrisc99
Guest

north 12-22-2006 21:54
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Duckbag that was me with my kids. I don’t know if you would understand but I am not able to buy heavy camo jackets for my two sons who are 5 and 7. My most important consideration is that they stay warm so they won’t be miserable. this is why they wear their regular heavy jackets (one red, one blue). they know that when I tell them, they are to get down and not move at all. that’s the best I can do. do you have kids duckbag? if you did, then you’d know that its very hard to get them to stay still for a long time with no ducks flying. I let them wander a little after about 8:30 because there was no action. by the way, I shot 4 times the whole morning and I wasn’t the one with the christmas lights. am i still a “yehoo” duckbag? if so, then I am really glad you didn’t come to “confront” me because I don’t need any of your “pointers”.

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

12-22-2006 13:30
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found my nut

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

12-21-2006 23:58
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the doldrums are upon some of us……well me at least. went back out this morning for a mallard and a gaddy. back at it tomorrow in the 4th different spot this week. sooner or later even a blind squirrel finds a nut.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

12-21-2006 14:20
– – –
That must have been the yehoos parked next to the river. Those boys need some help, they had to fire 2 boxes of shells, at least! And…. they were NOT shooting at ducks. I felt the need to confront them and tell them to go somewhere else for target practice, but I knew it would only end with a blow-out, so I left it alone.
They stand out in the wide open, had a young one with them in a RED coat and the other guy had some other type of COLORED clothes on.
I’d like to help people/hunters like that, but I feel like they would not take to someone giving them pointers??? The sad thing is that they are teaching there young that it is o.k. to sky-bust and hunt in blaze orange???

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

12-21-2006 13:19
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whew…..glad you weren’t the guy with the truck full of christmas lights.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

12-21-2006 10:38
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I was in the blue F150, parked and I waived at you as I was getting out.

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

12-19-2006 16:06
– – –
yep, you?

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

12-19-2006 14:35
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Randy, were you in the red truck?

Posted By:
rmarci
Guest

12-19-2006 13:26
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yep……duckbag, i was with you north yesterday and 2 guys shot 2 woodies. hunted south today and i shot 2 woodies 1 mallard. birds didn’t fly in the snow at all where i was.

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

East for Canadas and Rio up North 12-19-2006 11:45
– – –
Spanked the Canadas for two hunts this past Sat and Sun, finished with 24. Lots of them in the area, way more than last year. Three of us went up on the first go-up of the day and had 9 on the ground! 10 minutes later we were done.
Hunt the rio yesterday and for the first time ever, I never fired a shot and I hunted for 7 hours. Hopefully this front will push in more birds. I only saw maybe 50 all day and they were high and on a mission.
Had one guy stalk my decoys, let him get within 75 yards and figured I should say something before he started firing on my dekes and me. I guess my blind is pretty well hidden, it was only 10 yards from my first deke!

Anybody else out there have anything to report???, this state site is pretty sad.

Posted By:
dbercier
Guest

12-15-2006 10:33
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Al is where I want to be as well!!

Posted By:
duckbag
Web Member

Hidden Gem Blind, South 12-12-2006 12:35
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Well, Al (Desert Drake) and I finally hooked up for a hunt at his spot. No words are there for me to explain this spot other than AWESOME!!! He made me drive my atv blindfolded to the spot! So…, I can’t give you a location.

We could have been done in minutes but I held out for a few greenheads. So the hunt lasted about 45 minutes or so.
I can’t stress enough to people that you need to be where the birds want to be. Al is where they want to be!

Cant wait til the next time we meet up for a hunt!

Posted By:
samsonbirddog
WFC Sponsor

12-08-2006 15:05
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anyone know how the hunting on the northend of the butte has been?

Posted By:
NMduks
Guest

12-08-2006 08:14
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I got “carded” at sportmans in LC on Monday. I was in there buying some shells for a goose hunt I just went on in Lubbock. I was told the same thing. Store policy. I guess I don’t mind. Seems a little silly and takes a bit of your time but I guess they are just covering their back sides. Three of us limited on Canadas Wed. and Thur. morning. Lot’s of geese around the Lubbock area now. Cranes have moved out and been replaced by geese. Mostly smaller geese although we did manage to bring down four honkers yesterday. New mallards down here in the south I noticed yesterday. I think I will try to hit them hard this weekend. Best of luck to you all.

Posted By:
seeker28
Guest

12-06-2006 21:07
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For you lucky one’s getting bands I saw you can now fill out a webform to get your info. Supposed to be faster.

http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/mailrecv.htm

Posted By:
John-Prentice
Field Editor

New Mexico 12-06-2006 15:50
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 50-60 Degrees
I could not believe my ears this morning when I went to buy a box of shells at the Albuquerque Sportsman’s. The cashier asked me for my birthdate. I flipantly asked him if he was going to buy me a birthday present. He said it was a new store policy. I know one gets carded for beer and alcohol but for shells-give me a break. I asked if it was a State or Federal policy and was told it was a store policy. I think Sportsmans is over stepping their bounds and I am not happy about the policy. I would have thought that the cashier could tell that I am over l8,what with my white hair and obviously pudgy stomach. Anyone have a similar experience????