Posted By:
whiskey216
Guest
Thimble Islands, Branford 02-03-2003 14:29
Mostly Sunny, No Precipitation – 30-34 Degrees – Ice
Closing day out on Sumac was by far the best day of waterfowling this year. Getting out there before shooting hours was a bit of a challenge due to the single digit weather we had all week creating 5 to 6 inches of solid ice, but with a few days of ice breaking prior to Saturday, we got out there quite easily. There is much to be said about Express Duck Boats with keel guards.
We were the only hunters out for the morning hunt and did very well. That was until another group set up mid-day on Little Clam Island to have the time of their lives. Rumor has it, they killed 40 ducks and geese in 3 hours. Every time we looked we saw birds dropping like stones. Good Job to that group.
We finished up with 12 broadbill, 1 beautiful drake mallard, 1 common merganser.
Many birds to look at all day, and too many missed shots.
In closing, there were a few lessons to be learned on th 18th. You should make sure to come out with more than 3 shells to shoot (right Akki???). If you are going to shoot a semi-auto, make sure to have 200 shells (what do you think about that SGT.?)and a little note to myself…Next time you hunt the Sound, have more than 20 feet of line on your decoys. OHHH by the way…if anyone finds 2 LL Bean cork black ducks and or 2 G&H geese decoys, please send me an e-mail. There will be a delicious reward waiting (note the whiskey216 address).
There is one more lesson to be learned from Saturday. Leave the phone off the hook after you share a pint of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey with sgt.scoup jr. and Hogman.
Here is to a great close,
Cheers!!!
Posted By:
Bigwaterdogs1
Guest
01-24-2003 08:21
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – Below Zero
IT IS SAD TO SEE WE LOST THREE MORE OF OUR BRETHREN JUST FOR A DUCK!!! I SPEND THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME THINKING DREAMING HUNTING DUCKS, BUT SAFETY SHOULD ALWAYS COME FIRST. WE COULD STOP 99% OF ALL THE DROWNINGS WITH ONE SIMPLE STEP. P U T O N A L I F E J A C K E T !!!!! IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES BUT COULD MEAN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. THINK ABOUT THOSE THAT NEED YOU AT HOME. DON’T BE A HERO AND THINK YOU CAN SWIM IF YOU GO OVER YOU CAN’T!!!! IF YOU DO GO OVER AND YOU DO HAVE YOUR LIFE VEST ON YOUR SURVIVABILITY GOES WAY UP. hYPOTHERMIA IS YOUR CONCERNE AFTER THAT. IF THERE IS A GROUP OF YOU HUDDLE AS TIGHTLY TOGETHER AS POSSIBLE THAT WILL TRAP BODY HEAT. IF YOU ARE ALONE PULL YOUR KNEES TO YOUR CHEST AND MAKE YOURSELF AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE THAT TOO WILL SAVE BODY HEAT, BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS IF YOU ARE AT THE BOTTOM LOOKING UP BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T WEAR A LIFE JACKET. PLEASE BE SAFE AND GOOD HUNTING!!
Posted By:
DukDad
Guest
Long Island Sound 01-23-2003 19:20
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Finally summed up the courage to post a report from our last trip two weeks ago. MM, Screaming Teal, Myself and Sgt. Scup Jr. set out in gale force conditions, which included 6 to 7 foot seas, to cling for our very existence from a 35-40 mph wind blown rock on off the Branford coast.
Ducks we saw but again marksmanship should be an off season pledge……to learn. Sgt. Scup Jr. (now forever renamed “the Rat”) was busily squirilng away food stuffs while the rest of us froze our you know whats off. This is a guy you would definitely want to share a Bomb Shelter with ( as long as you were in possession of the only key).
On the boat ride back to shore a lot of promises were made to God (most of which were broken at the first available package store) and we did some serious sole searching on the proper amount of life insurance to carry.
This would have been a funny story had it not been for the news we all read about our WF friends.
Two days left in the season and we are going to play it safe.
Tud
Posted By:
Fishers
Guest
01-21-2003 21:11
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i wish you boys from ct would post… man it would be great…..
I hunt FI sound and hAVE BEEN DOING ALRIGHT THIS SEASON, BUT THE HIGHLIGHT WAS GOING DOWN TO THE SOUTH JERSEY SHORE THIS PAST WEEKEND… A TONE OF BIRDS DOWN THERE AND DID REEL WELL,,,,,, ONE WEEKEND LEFT AND THEN TIME TO START TAKING THE 130’S APART
Posted By:
01-21-2003 07:36
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Salt Marsh Never hunted rails are they good to eat? What time of year at Nells? Are there alot of them? Thank you in advance for the information!
Posted By:
Gotgeese?
WFC Sponsor
Norwalk question 01-10-2003 08:05
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With the relatively warm temps the last couple of days, the ramp is clear of most ice and snow. It should be launchable. LOTS of brant around the islands as well as the usual ‘squaw and mergs. See you out there.
Posted By:
DanburyDucker
Guest
LI Sound Norwalk 01-07-2003 21:47
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More of a question than a report. Are the launches at Vet’s Pk in Norwak clear or did the DPW crews plow the snow down the ramps.
If anybody got out around the islands, what’s been the targets, bluebills, old squaw? Love to know before Saturday.
DD
Posted By:
jerseywaterfowler
Guest
milford,ct 12-31-2002 17:17
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Thank you for the help,if I ever dump a bird I would use the old fishing pole with a 4oz bluefish popper to retrieve it. Use it once in awhile in jersey,not as romantic as a dog but it works.Yes any info on where one can hunt without a boat within a hour drive of Bridgeport would be great.Thank you J/W
Posted By:
SaltMarsh
Guest
Milford 12-30-2002 18:32
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You can hunt at Nells Island. You are talking about the dirt boat launch at court street and yes you could hunt there if you wanted. I dont know why you would but you could. If you dump any ducks or geese you cant get them at high tide without a boat or dog and at low tide it is like walking through a sludge pond. If you plan on boat hunting in there make sure you know the tides, etc…Nells Island is overrated anyways unless you want to get a bunch of rails early. Milford and the area has got a billion better places to hunt then Nells so if ya want i could point you in the right direction just not show ya. LOL
Posted By:
Dave-Proulx
WFC Sponsor
Milford 12-30-2002 13:57
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Jerseywaterfowler:
Believe you can hunt at Nell’s, but I’m not familiar with the area. If you email me before you come up next year, I’ll try to dig up some info from hunters in that area.
