Five Days to Go . . .

. . . and I don't think we'll be making it to 500. What a shame . . . the season started out so well.

Oh well, at least we've been killing a few.

This morning we hunted Charles' field and killed 6, 5 Mallards, 1 Gadwall.



Monday afternoon we hunted the Home field, bring home 8 birds: 4 GWT, 4 shovelers.



Sunday we hunted the Home field and bagged 10. 8 Mallards, 2 GWT



Saturday we hunted Charles' field and killed 15, including 10 Mallards, 2 Shovelers, 1 Gadwall, 1 Wigeon, and 1 Canada. FIRST BAND OF THE SEASON.



One correction to note. Friday-before-last, the Don, Fred, Blake, & I hunted Beedeville and brought home 1 shoveler. I added him to the total below, but forgot to mention it on the daily list.

Total for Regular Season: 476
Combined Teal & Regular for 2009: 535
Birds Per Day of Season: CRAPPY!
257 Shovelers (Arrrrrrrrgh!)
128 Mallards
24 Specks
31 Green Wing
17 Pintails
8 Gadwall
2 Blue Wing
5 Wigeon
1 Red Head
1 Wood Duck
1 Snow
1 Canada

Bet You're Wondering How This Week's Shaping Up, Aren't You . . .

We're not exactly burning 'em. Ahh, but I think we will on Saturday.

Monday afternoon, DB, Willie & I tried the Home field for a skunk. The next day, the Don & I returned and brought out 8, including 4 GWT's, 2 Pins, and 2 Shovelers.

Wednesday, the Don and I tried again, this time bringing only 2 Mallards, 1 Shoveler home.

Finally, Today, Don, Dad & I left with only 2 shovelers.

Total for Regular Season: 436
Combined Teal & Regular for 2009: 496
Birds Per Day of Season: CRAPPY!
251 Shovelers (Arrrrrrrrgh!)
105 Mallards
24 Specks
25 Green Wing
17 Pintails
6 Gadwall
2 Blue Wing
4 Wigeon
1 Red Head
1 Wood Duck
1 Snow

We're Giving It the Old College Try in the Morning On the River

Wish us luck. I'm not terribly optimistic. Oh well, enjoy the melody as you admire an enlarged photo of
Special Fred

Waiting on the Tales of Our Satisfied Thurst for Blood?

Well, you won't find them here. Last Wednesday, on January 6, 2010, the Don, Meredith, and Meredith's father-in-law Brent accompanied me to the Cache River. We killed a wood duck. That's what I said, a (singular) woody. That's all. No mas. Fin. The end.

Haven't been back since. This would be the first time since the 2000-2001 season that I've hunted one day out of eleven.

Point being, it sucks.

Total for Regular Season: 423
Combined Teal & Regular for 2009: 483
Birds Per Day of Season: 10.58
246 Shovelers (Arrrrrrrrgh!)
103 Mallards
24 Specks
21 Green Wing
15 Pintails
6 Gadwall
2 Blue Wing
4 Wigeon
1 Red Head
1 Wood Duck
1 Snow

No Real Surprises

Much to report, very little to say. It's cold, the hunting is non-existent, and I'm almost depressed over what could have been, but what simply ain't.

So here it is, from present to the past, that hasn't happened over the last couple of weeks. Christmas Eve, a massive squall rolled through Eastern Arkansas, dumping as much as 9.5 inches of rain across the delta. The resulting ocean has been less than hospitable for the duck hunting community.

We are currently 32 days into the season, leaving 28 to do some legitimate damage. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear as if it's going to thaw over the next week or so.

Total for Regular Season: 422
Combined Teal & Regular for 2009: 482
Birds Per Day of Season: 13.18
246 Shovelers (Arrrrrrrrgh!)
103 Mallards
24 Specks
21 Green Wing
15 Pintails
6 Gadwall
2 Blue Wing
4 Wigeon
1 Red Head
1 Snow

Today, Sunday, January 3, the boys did not hunt.

Saturday, January 2, 2010, the boys did not hunt.

Friday, January 1, 2010, we hunted Charles West for a Skunk.

Thursday, December 31, Special Fred, the Don, J-Hawk & I hunted Amys. 2 Mallards.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009, I hunted the fabled Yoke Opening with the Beach Clan. Always a pleasure, but the ducks beat us -- we left with only 2, including a Mallard and 1 GWT.



Tuesday, December 29, 2009, my friends from Michigan entertained me at the Beaver Dam on the Cache, and we left with 1 Pintail.

Monday, December 28, 2009, Jim, Mike, & the Boys started on the Cache with a zero and finished on the Home Field with 1 Shoveler.

Sunday, December 27, 2009, the Yanks showed up for a Beaver Dam hunt, and whilst we dropped seven birds, we left with only 3 Mallard Drakes.

Saturday, December 26, 2009, as a result of the very high water, we did not hunt.