Posted By:
hunting dog
Guest
upper champlain N Y side 11-08-2003 21:51
– – 25-30 Degrees – Open Water
Just wanted to let you guys know I enjoy reading your posts. I hunt the new york side of champlain as much as possible. Went south of Plattsburgh this am. First good cold morning we have had this year. Got set up well before first light had a few singles pass by as if I wasn’t even there. Around 8:30 spotted a nice bunch of mallards called to them they turned, circled and dropped right in missed on the first shot then couldn’t pump another round as my gun was frozen got it wet setting out the decoys. cleaned the ice off and it was ready again, but that was it only saw a few distant flocks nothing close enough to work. Still had a great time.
Posted By:
Michael-Bride
Field Editor
Lake Champlain/East Creek 11-08-2003 16:22
Sunny & Clear, High Winds – 30-34 Degrees – Open Water
11/8
So once again I wonder where all the ducks went.Hunted over on the big lake at the mouth of east creek.The wind was flirting with being rediculous.Had to make three passes with the motor in order to set out nine mallard fakes.We got settled in and watched two mallards fight upwind to get out of the creek at borderline legal time.They were well within range but the time was real close.I never imagined they would be the only ducks anywhere near ethical shotgun range.Well besides one hooded merg hen who thought it would be fun to swim in and out of our dekes and get as close as fifteen feet.Saw a few flocks and singles but nothing to swat at.All in all a slow day.Yesterday I was wondering how my father could pull himself away to chase deer next week.Today I may have figured it out.But tomorrow the ducks will be knocking our hats off all day.Thats just the way it goes.Whats a few cold,quiet hours on the lake when you’re hunting trophies?
Good luck!! Bubba…
Posted By:
Michael-Bride
Field Editor
Response 11-07-2003 18:24
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Actually Rick I filled in the application online a while back but I haven’t heard anything. I’am definately interested in doing it so we’ll just see what happens.
Good luck! Bubba…
Posted By:
VFE\\\’s 11-07-2003 14:35
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Thanks Jerry! We’re trying to keep up with you New Hampsherites, but you guys have like 5 or 6 Voulnteer Field Editors so I’m nominating Bubba B as the new Champlain VFE.
Whadda’ ya’ say Bubba B? Sounds like you get out there plenty! Oh, by the way Bubba B, I’ve had the misfortune of getting into a couple of boxes of those “low pellet count” shells myself once in a while. The box may say 1 1/8th oz. load but you know, I think sometimes there’s only the 1/8th and the other ounce went into my buddy’s shells. Have also resorted to trying to straighten out my barrel by banging the end of the gun (unloaded of course) against the gunnels of the boat. Not very effective.
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-11-07 14:44]
Posted By:
Jerry-Nicholson
Web Member
11-07-2003 13:00
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I should come read this stuff more often. Great reports, guys!
Posted By:
Michael-Bride
Field Editor
Lake Champlain/East Creek 11-07-2003 12:28
Mostly Cloudy, No Precipitation – 40-45 Degrees
11/7
Well I wonder where all the ducks went.On sunday and monday we saw some decent movement of birds.We hunted the same spot today and it was pretty quiet by comparison.At first light we saw some small flocks of mallards rip out of the creek.As they passed they got shot at and well educated for their troubles.I must say these flush and release tactics need to cease.For a short time after that we had some singles pass and again more flushing and releasing.After threatening to deep six my shotgun I calmed down and connected on 1 of 5 ringnecks that came through.And that was the last duck I got to shoot at.We had some mergs come in at about 10 feet but we just let them pass.I did talk to some guys who were hunting up by the bridge and they had the same show we did.All in all not as impressive as I had hoped but thats why they call it hunting and not shooting.Tomorrow I’ll be up at 2:30 ready with half the clothes I own to get in the same spot to do it again.This time I’ll make sure to bring shells that have some shot in them because the ones I used today didn’t seem to.
Good luck!! Bubba…
Posted By:
Weather 11-07-2003 09:40
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The Polar Express is on the move…Guy on the radio just said it was going to be SINGLE DIGITS by Sunday morning. Could be the big push we’ve been waiting for.
Posted By:
CT River North Wed. 11/5 & Thurs. 11/6 11-06-2003 11:34
Cloudy, Occassional Rain Showers – 35-40 Degrees
Hunted the setback below Orford Wed. with NH VFE Tom Wansleben (a great guy, BTW- see his post on the New Hampshire page). Just wanted to quickly say that I wouldn’t have made this friend or enjoyed this hunt without WF.com getting us together. The participation in the site and the people I’ve been in touch with are just fantastic. We had good duck weather, cold, windy, rain but not as much action as we would have liked. After today, I think I’m going to skip this particular setback in Orford for awhile. It’s just been pounded and always seems to have somebody else in it. Never used to get other gunners mid-week. Guess ’cause there’s no deer to shoot up this way these days more guys are getting into ‘fowling. Tom and I would have had a great chance on some low flying geese yesterday except for some extremely discourteous behavior by our swamp mate who had set up about 100 yds. away from us after we had a pretty large spread out (gave him the high beam flash with the spot to let him know we were right next to him to no avail…) Our friend then decided that heavi shot (or maybe he was shooting steel, who knows) now has a downrange lethality of 80+ yards…classic skybusting that flared a nice group of low geese that were clearly comitted to our floaters. If you’re hunting around other people and it looks like a group is working their spread, don’t screw it up for them and take a pass shot. Kick back and watch the action. I love seeing other people knock ’em down. Hunt with courtesy. Could be sour grapes on my part since this guy’s position cut off several birds that we might have had chances on. Missed a chance on a good group of woodies, too (I excerpt here from Tom’s post as I want to honor his sage advice…) “Helpful hint: When your hunting and nature calls because you have had too much coffee, make sure only one hunter goes at a time. Yesterday both Rick and I were out of the boat when four woodies came over, just about knocking our hats off, and we were holding, well, the wrong thing.” Thanks for that, Tom. Moral of the story- the ducks know when it’s safe to buzz you…don’t get caught with your pants down. Boated 1 bird, a real nice drake woody. Hunted this morning with Mikie Willis. Much warmer (although it started to cool down late morning) clear sky, north wind and very few opportuniites. Coupla’ shots fired, none connected, more geese movement but nothing close enough to swat at (unless you had those magic shells our friend was shooting yesterday). I guess I’ve gone on long enough. I’ll follow in Bubba B’s footsteps this weekend and finally shift gears and start hunting the Lake again. The Conn has been good practice. I think now we’re ready for the big leagues…
[Edited By Rick-Higgerson on 2003-11-06 18:27]
Posted By:
Michael-Bride
Field Editor
11-05-2003 15:22
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You’re very welcome Rick.If all goes well I should be over on the lake on Friday.If so I’ll post here when I get back so you,and anyone else, can have the info for the weekend.
Good luck! Mike B.
Posted By:
anvilman
Guest
11-04-2003 19:16
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HEY RICK CHECK OUT THE RI BOARD I POSTED A MEASAGE ON THE POST FOR YOU…..EDDIE
