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Just when I though I was completely done with watefowl...
I coughed up the cash for a non-resident Arizona annual license + AZ waterfowl stamp to last me into next season and the experience was anything but a disappointment. With a buddy and his friend at my side, I had 5 of my 7 duck limit filled in the first 15 minutes of legal daylight. I slowed down my pace to let the other guys catch up and by 9AM, I was limited out. Despite not having hunted since Thanksgiving day, I was absolutely on fire with my shooting. I only can remember one bird that I needed more than one shot to drop a bird in the morning push. I had to waterswat a couple of cripples that went down, but clean misses were almost non-existent.
More importantly, I heard not a single shot fired before legal shooting time. We were actually the first to fire any shots in the area with birds sitting right in the spread. There was ample space between hunting parties - hundreds of yards - and nobody within our periphery took impossible pot shots at sky-high birds. Everyone either let the birds work their decoys or took sensible passing shots at birds well within gun range. THAT is what it's all about!
Here's what George and I pulled in (the other gentleman, Joseph, had already left with his birds). I was fortunate enough to be the hot shooter today and got the lion's share of the birds. It's not always like that, but today, I got 2 redheads, 2 shovelers (3 actually, but we lost 1), a mallard drake, and my very first bull pintail sporting a decent sprig on his tail. That's a full limit downed and all but one recovered. I feel like a new man.
The total for two of us - (from left to right) - redhead hen, eclipse phase shoveler drake, redhead drake, common merganser hen, eclipse phase shoveler drake, mallard drake, green winged teal drake, redhead drake, pintail drake, redhead drake:
Me and George with the haul
My bull (drake) pintail
More importantly, I heard not a single shot fired before legal shooting time. We were actually the first to fire any shots in the area with birds sitting right in the spread. There was ample space between hunting parties - hundreds of yards - and nobody within our periphery took impossible pot shots at sky-high birds. Everyone either let the birds work their decoys or took sensible passing shots at birds well within gun range. THAT is what it's all about!
Here's what George and I pulled in (the other gentleman, Joseph, had already left with his birds). I was fortunate enough to be the hot shooter today and got the lion's share of the birds. It's not always like that, but today, I got 2 redheads, 2 shovelers (3 actually, but we lost 1), a mallard drake, and my very first bull pintail sporting a decent sprig on his tail. That's a full limit downed and all but one recovered. I feel like a new man.
The total for two of us - (from left to right) - redhead hen, eclipse phase shoveler drake, redhead drake, common merganser hen, eclipse phase shoveler drake, mallard drake, green winged teal drake, redhead drake, pintail drake, redhead drake:
Me and George with the haul
My bull (drake) pintail
Accuracy: because white space between bullet holes drives me insane.
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Just so you know I tried to eat one of those once.
Tried and once being the operative words.
Oh, I know. I have been warned, but George's neighbors will apparently eat ANY waterfowl type, to include mergansers and coots! He was willing to at least give it away to someone who could use it.
Those birds look pretty, especially the pintail drake. Is he destined for the wall or do you already have one up?.
I just got back from a cull. Like you, my shooting was on the mark. At one stage I had the video running when 4 birds came in, a female Paradise duck followed by 3 males. 4 shots, 4 birds down with all drt in the air before the first one hit the ground.. Was going to post up the video but my hunting mate let rip with some shocking language directed at me cos I shot them all. I was pissing myself with laughter when he described how he saw the first bird fall so swung on the second which fell before he could hit the trigger......he then swung on the 3rd bird which dropped before he could fire.....he then tried to beat me to the shot on the 4th bird only to see it fall as he swung through it. He didnt sulk for long though as I replayed the video shortly afterwards and each of my shots was punctuated by a swear word (his).
We ended up rolling on the ground in laughter and flared the next mob that came in.............
Look forward to seeing some more duck hunting reports.
PLEASE :worthy:
Awesome day hunting.
"The Un-Tactical"
Talking with George (who is a hobbyist taxidermist himself), I think I will get this pintail drake mounted because not only was this the first bull pintail I've ever shot, but it's a pretty nice one. They can get even longer sprigs on them, but what the heck...I'll put it up. I am going to use the same place that did my canvasback drake from last year. The guy who did that bird did an AMAZING job and people who've seen his work can't believe how well it comes out.
If you still have that video, I'll make the same request as Paul: PM that sucker because it sounds too funny.
Congrats on your haul.
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
It's amazing how good the hunting can be when you get the heck out of the Las Vegas area (i.e. the land of "it's all about me") and go out with hunters who don't have to pull the trigger so badly that they will screw over others to do so.
I found a KILLER looking recipe in this month's Duck Unlimited recipe for a duck Chile Colorado. I have to do some homework to find the particular chiles needed for the recipe, but I'm keeping the birds frozen and when I do find that chile, it's on!
Jerry
ASK-HOLE Someone who asks for advice and always does something opposite
I was VERY impressed with the quality of the guys over there. I'll get on a map here shortly and see what's cooking for next season at Cibola. Thanks for the tip!
Amen bellcat you are so right. No other hunting experience is quite like it.