Season’s over…time for reflection

[Nocalhonker]

I’m 3 1/2 seasons into mine. I had figured if they made it 5 seasons I wouldn’t feel dumb. I’m pretty confident they’ll make it and then some. They put new boots on them somewhere in the middle of that time. It’s a good thing being dry and comfortable.

5 season is kind of my gauge also so I may take the plunge before next year

 

[Tendo]

Definitely use my boat more instead of hunting refuges. You may not shoot as good quality of duck, but the hunting is a lot more fun.

Maybe swap bringing the A-frame at refuges and use layouts instead.

Also teach my hunting partners how to play zone defense in looking for birds instead of staring in one direction at the sunrise.

 

[Kevin Burroughs]

Stump blind worked to perfection as did the seats we cut in the big stump. New decoy trailer was even better than I hoped.

Solo Blinds are the bomb. The standing blind in the new pond killed a bunch of ducks.

 

[UncleBuzz]

Everything for me was new. So I did my best to listen to those that offered advice and direction. Spent 1 or 2 afternoons walking refuges instead of setting decoys and hunting. Halfway through the season I got a small cart so I didn't have to backpack decoys anymore which saved my back a lot of trouble. Took me to the last weekend if the season to figure out my standard cabelas supermag neoprene waders wete going to kill me with dehydration on those mile plus hikes in. Saturday I walked in with my normal hunting boots and put my waders on once I got to where I parked my cart. The difference in how soaked, or not soaked, in sweat I had been was a game changer. Next year I'll invest in a bicycle

 

[thomakr]

Overall fantastic season
1. Being able to transition the training of the pup from HT/FT training into hunting field scenarios was incredible and absolutely essential.These dogs are so smart.

2. Having options from hunting rice to natural

3. Appreciating how blessed we are living in this amazing country!

4. Looking forward to a 28 gauge learning curve!

Thank you all for this forum!

 

[drahthaarducker]

Everything for me was new. So I did my best to listen to those that offered advice and direction. Spent 1 or 2 afternoons walking refuges instead of setting decoys and hunting. Halfway through the season I got a small cart so I didn't have to backpack decoys anymore which saved my back a lot of trouble. Took me to the last weekend if the season to figure out my standard cabelas supermag neoprene waders wete going to kill me with dehydration on those mile plus hikes in. Saturday I walked in with my normal hunting boots and put my waders on once I got to where I parked my cart. The difference in how soaked, or not soaked, in sweat I had been was a game changer. Next year I'll invest in a bicycle

Coming from the Chesapeake I've never been cold out here. I've gone to stocking foot waders with Caddis boots.

 

[hunt'ngreen]

Reflecting on how to make more geese pay during the late season...

 

[thomakr]

Reflecting on how to make more geese pay during the late season...

Lots and lots and lots of decoys

 

[UncleBuzz]

Coming from the Chesapeake I've never been cold out here. I've gone to stocking foot waders with Caddis boots.

Drath, I swear I lost 10 pounds every hunt wearing my neoprenes to and from the ponds so that I wasn't beat to a spot in free roam areas. Which means i wasn't usually taking my sweet time getting out there. I actually had a check station person come out 2 weekends ago thinking I was having a heart attack because I had such a bad cramp getting out if my truck. 3 bottles of water in my bag wasn't sufficient hydration wearing those things apparently.

 

[dwhauss]

Had a blast learning new area, lots of help from Hayden Hunter! Shooting all fresh water was very nice, lots of big birds, way more mallards than this old salt is used to, and everything tastes better! Some fantastic scenery, diverse weather, bears swimming the river, eagles everywhere, ice ice ice, to much to early for us up here. Pushed most of the birds out before christmas.
Best memories? 400-500 mallards storming the decoys after I left the blind to go look for a cripple. Of course.
Fresh birds coming in from the north, coming off the ag fields onto the river and not even pausing as they setup for our spread.
Landing birds in my dekes 10 yds from my 360 blind. Oh yea,,,,, I can drive with my gun in the cab without fear of absurd laws.
Been thinking about changes to make for next year already. Not as many birds as the past for me, but much more enjoyable.