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Teal hunting for the unitiated
Nebraska's teal season is entering its last week, so I figured I should share some info on what it's like to chase these tiny ducks with those who have never done it.
Yes, it's wet.
Yes, you have to get up very early.
Yes, you have to haul in gear.
But, the upside is that you get to wingshoot one of the fastest and shiftiest birds there is. Teal are a blast to hunt because they decoy readily and will often make streaking low-passes over the spread before they commit, offering split-second shot opportunities for those who can make them.
The past two weeks were stellar, with fast limits achieved on every outing.
The beauty of teal: they float!
The 2-man bag
This last hunt was particularly fun, as I got my teal limit and then shot a limit of snipe. I ended up getting checked by a game warded on the way out of the mudflat. He said I was the first person he's ever checked for snipe and took my picture with my birds to add to his daily log.
The game warden even took a selfie with me. He was a super nice, but very thorough guy - exactly what you want in this profession. After he saw that my license, bag limits, steel ammo, and plug were all in check, he even marked up my public land map to help me find some sharptail grouse and prairie chicken hunting spots a little way north of this teal hole. Very cool of him:
Here are a couple of videos from the past two weeks. Both hunts resulted in limits for me and a buddy.
Yes, it's wet.
Yes, you have to get up very early.
Yes, you have to haul in gear.
But, the upside is that you get to wingshoot one of the fastest and shiftiest birds there is. Teal are a blast to hunt because they decoy readily and will often make streaking low-passes over the spread before they commit, offering split-second shot opportunities for those who can make them.
The past two weeks were stellar, with fast limits achieved on every outing.
The beauty of teal: they float!
The 2-man bag
This last hunt was particularly fun, as I got my teal limit and then shot a limit of snipe. I ended up getting checked by a game warded on the way out of the mudflat. He said I was the first person he's ever checked for snipe and took my picture with my birds to add to his daily log.
The game warden even took a selfie with me. He was a super nice, but very thorough guy - exactly what you want in this profession. After he saw that my license, bag limits, steel ammo, and plug were all in check, he even marked up my public land map to help me find some sharptail grouse and prairie chicken hunting spots a little way north of this teal hole. Very cool of him:
Here are a couple of videos from the past two weeks. Both hunts resulted in limits for me and a buddy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGBlJzoKDE0Accuracy: because white space between bullet holes drives me insane.
Replies
You'll notice that the first bird I shot in this second video was a wee bit too close...yeah. Let's not do that again. At least I didn't have to gut it.
When it all comes together in a good area, you can be limited out in 20 - 60 minutes and hunt something else (snipe is a favorite, as it inhabits the same general area as teal) or you can head home and go to breakfast with the family, watch football, etc. If you've never done it, find someone who has the gear, get some waders and get to it.
Six, how are the snipe to eat and how do you cook em? I've heard they're excellent. But I suspect that's up in fresh water areas with lots of grain. I can't imagine a swamp bird down here being edible.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Yeah. Once a season, I make a rookie move like shooting a bird too close. This was my checkbox for the year.
Gonna find out. The breasts are about the size of a dove's, so I chilled my last batch and will combine them with these for a reasonable-sized meal. Rumor I've heard is that ordinary steak rub works awesome and that's what I plan to do.
Well done!!!!
Thanks a lot! Props to my buddy for snapping it as I asked. We had a split thunderstorm surrou ding us, which made for cool lighting that early in the morning.
It is your new contact info photo.
Sweet! That's awesome and good call. I may have to update a few of my own with it (Gmail, etc.)
Totally awesome Bro, I want to hunt with you!!!
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
You need to get down here for one of the upcoming seasons. We have literally yet to NOT limit out on a morning hunt down here. Any by "limit out", I mean well before 9AM. It ain't hard living, that's for sure.
Oh, and PM space has been cleared. Thanks for the heads-up.
Ya know, I DO have a $250 Delta Airlines voucher that needs to be used up before November. We may have to talk.
FYI - I got the snipe cooked up tonight with some barbecue rub. Not bad at all! They are more "meaty" than "birdy" in flavor, which is pretty neat. I won't be turning them away from the table any time soon.