Season’s over…time for reflection

[blackdog58]

Thank you Kevin. Watching you this year was tremendous.

Always, appreciate the wife. She's been through 39 seasons. Third day of battling pneumonia Lisa said she felt bad I wasn't going that day. Wife with pneumonia over Thanksgiving and son with Covid over Christmas made for quite a different holiday season.

Always appreciate the invites I got, but didn't or couldn't go. Thank you.

Spent a lot of time, working-looking-scouting areas. Always felt satisfied regardless of the production result and time lost that I could have been shooting.

Got to hunt some of my favorite areas I haven't seen in a while.

Minus one batch of primer issue reloads, they worked well. Minus the opener, shot the 20 the entire year.

One regret, the boat didn't get as much use as I would have liked.

Had several people here visit me at the range during the season. They all felt a great investment was done. Happy to hear that.

Making the trip a experience, has been far more important than the strap. Don't get me wrong, want a strap. But the strap as the measurement in total is not how I think. I had, a really nice season.

 

[Double Reed]

Mid morning to dark hunts. Less worry, less stress, warmer and more sleep. Not about bird numbers anymore. 2-3 and it’s a great day. Anything more is a bonus. My 2 most memorable hunts did not start till 1:30 and had the whole place to myself. One hunt actually limited out and the other just 3.

A dozen decoys is plenty and the sled slides better.

Glad I did not buy a cart after all.

Kayak hunting or from one is going to open up more area to me after it freezes.

Take just the minimum even in a boat.

 

[RefugeHunter]

Saturday I walked in with my normal hunting boots and put my waders on once I got to where I parked my cart.

Yes, everything goes in the tub on the cart. Jacket, gun, waders, decoys, blind bag with shells. Then walk out in tennis shoes or wading boots with neoprene booties if it's too wet.

On arrival, slide the tub into the water, put on waders, leave the cart and float the tub out to the blind or hunt location.

On return, take off the waders and put the tennis shoes back on, slide the tub and all gear including a limit of ducks back onto the cart and then roll back to to the parking area.

Carry nothing.

 

[California Flyway]

RefugeHunter your use of the tub reminds me of one of my older hunting buddy's phrase,
"The easy way is hard enough"

 

[Double Reed]

Yes, everything goes in the tub on the cart. Jacket, gun, waders, decoys, blind bag with shells. Then walk out in tennis shoes or wading boots with neoprene booties if it's too wet.

On arrival, slide the tub into the water, put on waders, leave the cart and float the tub out to the blind or hunt location.

On return, take off the waders and put the tennis shoes back on, slide the tub and all gear including a limit of ducks back onto the cart and then roll back to to the parking area.

Carry nothing.

This is my dad at Modoc. Unless it’s really cold he would have his waders on. At 79 years old and solo now, he is no longer racing anybody out there. Cart, walking stick, tub, shells, gun, one dozen decoys, waders and a lunch. Stays from daylight to afternoon.

He had a “young guy”, in his 30’s, pull his cart in for him one day last year. Was walking in from way south side of the south Parkinglot and the guy insisted. Made his day my dad said.

 

[Kornfed]

This is my dad at Modoc. Unless it’s really cold he would have his waders on. At 79 years old and solo now, he is no longer racing anybody out there. Cart, walking stick, tub, shells, gun, one dozen decoys, waders and a lunch. Stays from daylight to afternoon.

He had a “young guy”, in his 30’s, pull his cart in for him one day last year. Was walking in from way south side of the south Parkinglot and the guy insisted. Made his day my dad said.

Hope I can still get after em at 79. You’re dad is badass

 

[Double Reed]

Hope I can still get after em at 79. You’re dad is badass

Not the day I described but one hunt this year at Modoc. Him and my mom stay for a whole month there in the trailer from second weekend of the NE zone till 30 days is up. Hunts every day and goes fishing in the days between or hunts Ash Creek. Next season I am coming back to California and spending a week in Alturas with them and hunting.

 

[RefugeHunter]

He had a “young guy”, in his 30’s, pull his cart in for him one day last year.

Yes, yes, yes...... when we have young bucks along, us older guys talk about how easy and pleasurable it is to roll the cart. Before you know it they want to give it a try.

Just like Tom Sawyer painting the fence.