Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: jennyfell55 on December 04, 2013, 06:49:26 PM
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So I went out today hoping to get a bird or two. With this cold snap I was thinking it might push some birds down. Apparently I was wrong! Saw one group of swans and that was it for the day! At 18 degrees I learned that your shotgun can freeze to your waders when you leave it sitting on your lap :yike: I also learned just how hopelessly addicted I am to duck hunting :chuckle: I sat there in the freezing cold, my fingers numb and my waders iced over... watching a little winter wren searching for bugs less than a foot from me... thinking to myself that there was nowhere else I would rather be. Sitting there enjoying the beauty of the frozen marsh and a gorgeous sunrise... it was a good day :)
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Nice picture, gotta love those bitter cold days on the pond!
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I'd take a day like you show here over the best day at work any day.
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You nailed it. There's no place better than the marsh Iin the winter. Truly heaven on earth.
:tup:
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Keep at it. Usually it takes a few days like this to get them down. Its the northern birds youre waitin on. This weekend should be awesome! Remember to try to find some open water!
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Awesome post/sentiments Jenny!
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The birds will often switch locations. Think about hunting river backwaters and the like once all the ponds and sheet water start to freeze up. Also make sure you are out the next time a storm rolls through!
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You nailed it. There's no place better than the marsh Iin the winter. Truly heaven on earth.
:tup:
:yeah:
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The birds will often switch locations. Think about hunting river backwaters and the like once all the ponds and sheet water start to freeze up. Also make sure you are out the next time a storm rolls through!
Just make sure since you dont have a dog or a boat that you stay close to shore and shoot them where you can get them. I froze to a bucket I was sitting on waiting for a deer. Then went on the water and froze there to. Warmed up after 2 hrs of rowing, but thats another story, and a bottle of whisky. :chuckle: Funny how some of the most simple things can be the most amazing to experience.
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The birds will often switch locations. Think about hunting river backwaters and the like once all the ponds and sheet water start to freeze up. Also make sure you are out the next time a storm rolls through!
Just make sure since you dont have a dog or a boat that you stay close to shore and shoot them where you can get them. I froze to a bucket I was sitting on waiting for a deer. Then went on the water and froze there to. Warmed up after 2 hrs of rowing, but thats another story, and a bottle of whisky. :chuckle: Funny how some of the most simple things can be the most amazing to experience.
BTW I owe you a bottle after yesterday :chuckle:
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Telling the story to my wife and cousin, it was hard not to laugh after the fact. No matter what, something is always made, or harvested. Sometimes, its memories. :tup:
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Telling the story to my wife and cousin, it was hard not to laugh after the fact. No matter what, something is always made, or harvested. Sometimes, its memories. :tup:
I think memories might be the best part! The birds disappear quickly... especially in my house :drool: The memories last far longer :)
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It was a beautiful day. Went out thinking that with the cold weather it was going to be on! Nope. About to pickup the decoys at high noon and a group of about 12 pintail almost busted us. Got one and that was enough to make the day.
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Went out this morning as well, we were at 27 degrees. I took a part-time neighbor from Turkey via New York with me. Put the dekes out just at shooting light, settled into the blind, then remembered the one goose decoy. As I placed it on the edge of the water about 15 yards from the blind, a dozen teal landed in the decoys... guess where my shotgun was? In the blind, of course. The local pond was frozen so I was hoping the birds would be out along the bay more. Saw a few, dropped a hen Hooded merg as she flew by, was hoping it was a teal. Missed a Golden eye. Finally had a mallard come by, hit him on the first shot but no broken wings. He turned, I racked the gun and the shell stopped halfway out, cleared and shot again, but missed. We watched him sail out into the middle of the bay and watched him pass away. With no wind, I was not in too much of a hurry to get him, and I hadn't seen any eagles around. I then noticed one of our neighbors coming in with his boat to work so I gave him a call. He was nice enough to fetch it up for me. :tup:
About 9 a big flock of mallards circled a couple of times, broke up and half landed way out. Oh well, time to get to work anyways.
It was a pretty morning on the water for sure.