waterfowl opener

[rainshadow1]

Would have had a different morning if everybody followed the rules and code like you, Van...

My morning started with an altercation after I chose to ignore an empty ground blind in between the two spots I wanted to set up... my wife and I, and my two boys. Other guys walked in an hour later (5AM) and we had words. Leader of that pack was not happy. They cussed their way in and started to set up, demanding that my kids leave.

I ended up texting my boys (we were 70 yards apart,) telling them to be polite but don't budge, and asking them how they felt. They were "uncomfortable." Needed to intervene, so I headed over, talked civilly to one guy, he came over with me to talk to the ringleader, and I kicked it into the right gear, soft answer, facts first, calming things down and working it out. I gave up the good spot to them, and moved the boys out further into the marsh. Ringleader realized his attitude was wrong, and we developed a rapport, he helped my boys get set up good, followed by a good hunt for all parties!

Left at noon with 22 of a 28 bird bag!


David (the pen maker) hauling the meat!

Dducks by Steve Tormala, on Flickr

[fowl smacker]

Slept in to hunt the incoming so didn't hit the water til 8:30.  Apparently a couple groups got out EARLY at the high tide because when I arrived there were a couple boats high and dry.  Paddled the kayak out and sat in a less than ideal location away from the groups I could see.  Tossed out 4 decoys.  Killed a pintail, mallard, and a honker.  Only stayed a couple hours, then packed up and went scouting before digging a limit of razor clams. 

[Henrydog]

6 gadwalls missed a mallard drake.  I waited until 830 to let the deer hunters get to their spots.  Jump shot on a creek.  This is my pups first duck retreive.  Kind of nice to be back in the game.  My old springer loved to hunt but hated water

[vandeman17]

We had a guy show up about 5 minutes after shooting time. I was upset when he stopped in the sage behind us on the edge of the hill thinking he was going to try and set up right next to us. He ended up just sitting back there and would call every little bit. Never fired a shot or even went down to the edge of the water. I am thinking he came in hoping to hunt where we were and decided to just wait until we were done. If so, I appreciated it.

[metlhead]

Some opening day rockets

[YoungFowler]

I was able to get on a few.

[Jakobv]

No pics, but shot 11 yesterday and got a good two man limit in 2.5 hrs, best opening weekend we’ve had in a while, and have seen a lot of geese most of them higher than snot and headed north.... wonder why?


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[YoungFowler]

have seen a lot of geese most of them higher than snot and headed north.... wonder why?

Lots of high flying geese eastside too, snows migrating all day.

[Bill W]

have seen a lot of geese most of them higher than snot and headed north.... wonder why?

Lots of high flying geese eastside too, snows migrating all day.

This is the first year that snows weren't open on the opener.  They have a delayed opener so part of the eastside can have a Feb snow season.

[Mfowl]

have seen a lot of geese most of them higher than snot and headed north.... wonder why?

Lots of high flying geese eastside too, snows migrating all day.

This is the first year that snows weren't open on the opener.  They have a delayed opener so part of the eastside can have a Feb snow season.

Snows weren't open last year for the start either. I hate that! They should give us the opening weekend! Then start the spring season closure.