Posted By:
whiskey216
Guest
LI Sound 01-22-2002 08:04
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
For all of Connecticut waterfowlers that read this article, words cannot describe the experience that I had on closing day, but I will try. I can use words like painful(slipping and falling on to aqua man’s bowlight taking out 1 or 2 ribs on the left side), cold(12 hours sitting on a boulder), calm(waterskiiers would have been impressed), exciting(more ducks and geese flying out of range that ever before unfortunately no swans or pigeons), interesting conversation (the birth of Aqua Man).
While stting out there for countless painful hours I had time to reflect on how great it was to be there with duckdad and Aqua Man. I also thought how great it was that the government gives us until April 15th to file our tax returns. Hey Mallardman, are you getting a refund this year? We missed you out there. The conversation was way too civil and ethical with your absence.
There are tons of geese that looks promising for the late season although flying very high (Good news for all of you sky busters).
I can’t wait until next year!!!
Whiskey216
Posted By:
DukDad
Guest
Long Isalnd Sound 01-21-2002 12:08
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
What follows is my tribute to a memerable season. I call this:
A Seasons Swan Song
In the begining there was an egg,inside the egg it was warm and safe,outside the egg there were feathers and straw and a flock of millions and life was good
The egg broke and my feathers were exposed, oh so exposed ,to the clean air and the yellow sun and life was good
I learned to swim and I ate,I learned to fly and I ate,I became strong and plump and life was good
The days grew shorter and the water began to freze, food became scarce, through my feathers through my fat through my delicious and tender meat I began to fell cold,I decided to go to Miami where I heard that life was good
I left Canada in the early grey mornning with a flock tens of millions strong,I was sad to leave this happy place even though a dollar here is worth only 69 cents
I followed the rivers I huged the coast,I heard shoots fired and my flock became smaller,I saw dogs I saw boats I saw men in funny hats and my flock grew smaller still
I became suspicious of my friends I saw and heard impostors, I became clever and cautious but still my flock grew smaller
On the very last day with my odyssey nearly done I made a big mistake,from the North over countless ponds,rivers,bays and swamps I came to this place…. then forty yards away I saw a funny hat
While my value as a part of the circle of life can not be measured,it is estimated by some that here in the frezer I am worth $169.24 per pound, thats after taxes,licence,stamp,decoys,etc.etc.etc.
I will be consumed with reverence along with strong drink and tales of seasons past, untill the autumn when the circle begins anew
Posted By:
DukDad
Guest
Branford Harbor 01-21-2002 11:40
Cloudy, Accumulating Snow – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Closing day duck has us clinging to a rock outcropping in Branford harbor.Aqua Man has just finished explaining his submersible technique for hunting duck armed with nothing but a snorkle. Pigeon has been loaded since the night before and he is itching kill. Duck,goose,pigeon,swan it’s all the same to Pigeon. Like he always says “If you drink enough Jack you can eat an old boot and be happy.”
Happy we are not as we witness a group of hunters cutting off our game with sky busting shots of over 100 yards. We do score on a hen Mallard the size of a turkey and on a group of Bufflehead but the carnage should have been a lot worse.
Tud
Posted By:
Malard Man
Guest
L.I. sound 01-17-2002 13:45
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
Well that could be my season, the Duk Daddy and me hit Great Harbor, for me it was the first time in 10 yrs, he’s got a highway running through there he’s there so much. Teased by that awesome sound of Canada’s in the distant river (same marsh) and the sight of black ducks 100 yrds away is how it will probably end. Did the big man up stairs give me one last volley of three to give my 7 yr old lab a forty yard retrieve before the season ends saturday? Yes he did. 12 Mergies Come into the marsh, I low crawl with Braska (my dog)in tow 40yrds, still undetected, jump, shoot, miss, as I’ve done since I started. All the same feelings that I had the very first time I jump shot and missed come rushing back into my brain housing group! You think after all this time I would have taken another breath, took my time, and put one down. NOPE not me and thats probably why I’ll keep doin it (duck hunting) until I meet the all mighty the same way some of my prey has in the marsh. No not by gettig shot with steel, by dying of a heart attack when some supposed duck hunter blows off a 12 ga 31/2 passed my tailfeathers.
Thanks for a great season men!
Until Next Year!
Malard Man
Posted By:
Malard Man
Guest
LI Sound 01-15-2002 21:05
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Duk Daddy its the malard man. I had to use one “L” because some other slayer is using two. Anyway, to all you other murderous feather blasters – only believe half of what the Duk Daddy tells you. That Mergie was only ten yards, my BUTT! More like eleven! Here’s to Scaup Jr., Yea Rich thats your name to bad you don’t hunt any more!#*&$%. I been hunting only half as long as you oldsqwause (15 yrs) and I still ain’t seen nothin’ like I talked Duk Daddy into shootin’ today! Just kiddin’ DEP, I said Tud left shoulder shoot and wouldn’t ya know he did. Alls fair in stools and feathers it was a lesser squap. ( I think) Gotta go – too much Sapphire chased down with wine and I gotta meet Duk Daddy at 0530 where I don’t remember? Until next time “If it’s in your stool kill it unless your looking between your legs!”
Malard Man
Posted By:
DukDad
Guest
Thimble Islands 01-15-2002 10:52
Cloudy, High Winds – 40-45 Degrees
Made a couple of trips with Mallard Man and came home with game both times. We had a Green Head come into the blocks while we were still setting out the decoys. He literaly flew right between us. MM instinctively derw a beed on him only to discover that he was holding air…gun of course being on the rocks,unloaded and in its case. We made a pledge that from here on we are going to load up while in the car.
In keeping with our tradition of shooting first and asking questions latter we harvested two waterfowl that sent us to the “Birds Of Connecticut Field Guide” for proper identification. One was a lesser of two scaup and the other I still havent ID.We may have to refer to the endangered species manual.
Posted By:
Glenn-Schutz
Guest
LI Sound 01-14-2002 19:21
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
1/12/02
Hunted on the sound on Saturday morning. Set up for ducks and geese. As usual, ducks flew early but few were close enough for a shot. We hit one beautiful greenhead that dropped after flying another 200 yards.
Geese flew late in the morning and we took our limit of 2 each without a problem. Last weekend of the season had a lot of boats on the water but not a lot of shooting–still too warm. Speaking of too warm, a scouting trip this morning on some inland ponds/lakes showed they were mostly open again and the geese had found them. We’ll need another lengthy cold snap to freeze up those ponds and drive the Canadas to the shore. Hunt safe.
Glenn
Posted By:
Dave-Proulx
WFC Sponsor
Farmington River 01-12-2002 13:30
Cloudy, Winds Calm – 35-40 Degrees
Last outing in the north zone this morning. As usual, the ducks were unpredictable. Still a bunch of woodies around, even though its January. Shot two beautiful drakes early. Didn’t see many mallards or blacks, and of the ones we did see, only one pair gave us a passing look. Very skittish birds and no shots.
Season Overall: Though we killed geese fairly consistently and had some luck with ducks, the bird numbers weren’t anywhere near last year’s flight through my area. Seems like there was just not enough cold weather to bring the birds to the rivers where we do most of our hunting.
Can’t wait to get after ’em again next year.
Posted By:
DukDad
Guest
Thimble Islands 01-08-2002 12:37
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 35-40 Degrees
Ended a long and unhappy drought when I teamed up with Mallard Man for a Blackie and a Mallard Drake.
True to his name Mallard Man refused to send a lone Merg. to Allah because he only harvests Mallards. Though he did take his three as it passed ten yards in front of him.
Posted By:
Bigwaterdogs1
Guest
thames 01-04-2002 11:55
Sunny & Clear, Winds Calm – 10-20 Degrees – Open Water
Still slim pickens couple mallards, couple ring bills nothing else moving much. An enjoyable day out on the water with good dog work. I don’t know if this will be read by the right person but to the guys on the eastern side of the river this morning, I have no problem with you being over there I go to that side myself on occasion but you should move down a bit you were to close to the yellow house I heard you shooting so I hope you got a couple just try to set up a little better if a warden came out you might have gotten into trouble or we could lose that side. I got hollered at for hunting on that side last week and was told I was screwing things up for everyone, I am not doing that here like I said I have no problem with you being on that side just pick your set up spot a little more cautiously. To everyone lets all try to be a little more courteous we are all out to have a good time and enjoy the day even if the birds are slow so try to keep opinions to yourself unless an immediate danger to life or property is at hand.If you feel somebody cut you off to the ducks or is getting all your shooting either move or just let the day happen nothing is set in stone as to how the birds are going to react. Starting an argument over such things is just stupid. Just remember there is always tomorrow or next season and we will all get our birds
BE CAREFUL HUNT SAFE HUNT SMART SHOW SOME COURTESY AND HAVE A GOOD TIME!
SETTING WINGS
