DOVE SEASON!

For the second straight year, dove season was a blast in every sense of the word. The weather was a little on the warm side, but our barrels stayed red-hot. Despite the inordinately harsh summer weather, after a few cokes from the icebox and a sausage biscuit from Tasha's bag, everyone came out smiling.

The End!

I have to admit, for the last couple of weeks, I've been more excited about the prospect of the youth season than I was about the prospect of the last split of the regular season. Why not? Its the one weekend out of the season when I can sit back and enjoy watching the excited faces of youngsters waiting patiently on flurries of ducks. There's nothing quite like watching a 10 year-old retrieve a duck that he or she KNOWS they are entirely responsible for.

Unfortunately, the wheatherman didn't cooperate as well as we would have like for him to. Temps dropped into the low 20's and the farm was frozen for 3 days prior to the opener. On the other hand, I was encouraged by a phone call from Jordan, who said that the creek was packed with ducks. Having thoroughly scounted the vicinity, we decided to set up on the creek with Olivia, Bo, and Garrett. The ducks were still weary, but cooperated well enough for the gang to reduce two to possesion on Saturday morning.

Saturday afternoon, a glimmer of sunshine emerged for long enough to somewhat thaw the fields. We took the trio to Chuck's and they knocked down another 3 mallards and a gadwall, but only found the 2 of the mallards.

On Sunday morning, I took Olivia back to Charles' field, and while she got a few shots in, she never connected with a bird. On the way out of the field, having noticed the cackling of mallards on Gaylon's pond, we decided to stop by. As the birds flushed, Olivia got a shot off, a drake dropped, and ole Cannon was glad to fetch him from the icy waters. Twas a nice weekend, but I'm tired, and we're all glad its over for a while.

Weekend total: 5 Mallards.
Regular Season/Youth Combined: 670 Birds.
Charles' New Record:449 Birds (300 Mallards)
Home: 150
Baser: 45

Well, That's All, Folks

You may have expected a philosopical reflection and sweeping discourse regarding how the ups and downs of a long, hard-fought battle relate to those deeper issues affecting our lives. Hmmmm . . . if that's the case, you're gonna be extremely disappointed. Those deep reflections are for seasons that sucked. The fact is, this season was so good that it is hard to remember the best hunts, i.e., it was so good that the days all seem to melt together and its hard to put your finger on a single win. Sure, there was the day that we carried out 4 limits of mallards 20 minutes after hours came in. Then there was the day that we fought 40 m.p.h. winds and smoked the gaddies. Of course, watching my daughter take her first solo on the wing was pretty special too. My point is this: This season rocked, and on seasons that rock, you don't get heart-felt reflections -- you get statistics. And here's how it came out:

Total Body Count: 665 (that'd be a record)
Total Ducks Harvested: 587
Total Geese Harvested: 78
Total Mallards: 356
Total Gadwall: 131
Total Shovelers: 59
Total Other Species: 41

By Location:
Charles' Field: 444
298 Mallards
62 Gadwall
47 shovelers
12 Pins
11 Specks
5 Wigeon
3 Snows
2 Teal
2 Scaup
2 Canadas

Home Field: 150
69 Gadwall
32 Mallards
15 Specks
12 Shovelers
9 Green Wings
6 Wigeon
3 Wood Ducks
2 Pintails
2 Snow Geese
2 Snow Geese

Baser
43 Snow Geese
2 Specks

Big Creek
11 Mallards

Marvins
9 Mallards

Amy's
9 Mallards


* Mallards 356
* Gadwall 131
* Wigeon 11
* Pintail 14
* Green Wing 11
* Blue Wing 0
* Wood Duck 03
* Northern Shoveler 59
* Redhead 0
* White-Front 28
* Snow Goose 48
* Canada 2
* Goldeneye
* Ringneck
* Buffelhead
* Canvasback 0
* Merganser 0
* Black Duck
* Scaup 2

In With A Bang . . . Out With A Whisper

In our minds, the closing weekend would begin and end with a flurry of steel shot hurled skyward at throngs of fluttering birds in groups of fifty or better. In reality, we saw the close of the 2010-2011 season from the tailgate of Jordan's Toyota, but it was probably fitting.

Friday, John, Jordan, Blake, Papa, & I reluctantly returned to the pit blind on Charles'. It was slow, but we eeked out 6 mallards, 2 shovelers, and 1 snow before we left. That afternoon, Jordan took another 2 mallards out of the creek.

11 Birds.
8 Mallards
2 Shovelers
1 Snow Goose

On Saturday, Tash, Dave, Jordan, Blake, Haun, & I made our final trek to Charles' field. We had fairly low expectations, so when the mallards failed to show we weren't terribly disappointed. We were, however, pleasently surprised when a pair of greater Canadas worked into the spread. We invited both of 'em over for dinner, and they accepted our invitation with a thud.

On Sunday, Jordan, John, Blake & I, unable to find suitable working ducks, opted instead for a short stalk on some snows. It was a decent take, and when we left we had an additional 45 in our bag.

For the Weekend:
47 Birds
43 Snows
02 White-fronted Geese
02 Canada Geese

It's Official:

We've crossed the 600 mark. Today Olivia, Jordan, & I hunted the South line of Chuck's. Granted, the weatherman screwed it up again, but things came out okay. Skies were crystal clear, as predicted, but the WSW winds that were supposed to blow at 5-10 actually turned out to be NW winds at 10-15. Not good when you're standing directly north of a small forest. One way or another, it was a beautiful day, and we whittled-out 8 of 'em by the time we were done.

8 Ducks, All Mallards
607 For the Season
433 in Charles' Field
348 Mallards Total




Wednesday, January 26, Jordan, John, Papa, and I gave Marvin's a try. We shot 10 mallards from a levee blind, but only retrieved 9, despite sincere attempts to find the 10th. Decent shoot.

9 Ducks, All Mallards

Tuesday, January 25, 2011, the Baker Boys rejoined Papa, J-Hawk, John, & I on Chuck's. I desperately wanted to hunt that South tree line again, as I am convinced that it would be where the ducks wanted. Unfortunately, 10 m.p.h. North-Northeast winds made us well aware that the south-line hunt wasn't going to happen, so we opted for the blind once again. It was good enough, and the first flock of birds that came in produced 3 dead on arrival, one of which was BANDED! Johnny got the band on a coin-toss, and the bag for the day included 11 Mallards, 1 shoveler, and 1 Speck.

13 Birds
11 Mallards
01 Speck
01 Shoveler

Season Total: 590
Mallards: 331
Charles' Field: 425 Birds
Home Field: 150 Birds
Amy's Field: 09 Birds

If Ya Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em . . .

Monday, January 24, 2011, J-Hawk, Papa, & I were joined by the Baker Boys for another trip to Charles'. Once we had set the blocks and settled into the blind, we began to notice a slight trend developing: every duck that came by ignored us completely and flew directly to the south end of the field. Having had enough of that, we finally decided to join them on on the South line and throw out a new set. Good call, and although it took us until 11:15, we finally eeked out a limit of mallards. Good morning!

20 Ducks
All Mallards
577 for the season.
320 Mallards
412 In Charles' Field

Sunday morning . . . Back to Chuck's. John, Jordan, Blake, and ole Gibby. 2 pins, 2 GWT, and 13 mallards. We're gettin' there.

17 Birds
13 mallards
02 GWT
02 Pins

So . . . We Started Back Where We Left Off

Well, as we entered into the last 9-day split of season, the temps hovered in the mid-20's and the clouds refused to go away . . . until noon that is. Well, Olivia, Jordan, John, Gibby, and a mystery guest waited 'em out and didn't show up at Chuck's until 1:00 p.m. We got to the blind around 1:30, started hunting about 1:45, and walked out at 3:00 with 20 mallards. Not a bad way to kick off the last split!

20 Birds
All Mallards
540 for the season
375 in Charles'.

Batten Down the Hatches Boys . . . It's a Crap Shoot!

Alrighty! We've a mere 9 days left in what has been the most glorious of seasons on Trigger Happy Farms. How will it end? Sky's the limit. We're looking at lows in the 20's tonight, which means we'll blow off tomorrow morning and shoot for thawing ice 'round 1:00 p.m. As for the rest of the week, looks like mainly low temps in the mid-to-upper 20's and highs in the mid-to-upper 30's. As for sun vs. clounds, it's too close to call, but in any event, I'm sayin on the front end that the weather man will control our destiny. If it thaws and the sun emerges, we'll most likely smoke 'em. If it's frozen and cloudy, we'll do good to shoot another 30 before the week's end. Either way, ole Gibby ain't gonna give 'em any rest between here and the end.

We need 4 ducks outta Chuck's to break the all-time number of ducks harvested in a single field.

We need 13 mallards to break the all-time number of mallards harvested in a season.

We need about 210 shovelers to break the all-time number of those for a season, but I don't think we'll achieve such success. Possible . . . but doubtful.

They Say Records Are Made To Be Broken . . .

. . . so we smashed ours to pieces, lit 'em on fire, and spit on the ashes.

Not satisfied with the mediocrity of simply equaling the previous record on the farm, J-Hawk, Blake, & I eased down to Amy's yesterday afternoon to finish what we started. Lots of birds worked the dry field we were hunting, but the clouds made it impossible to hide. Nonetheless, J-Hawk smoked one off the Creek and we dusted another 3 in the rice field.

4 Ducks
All mallards.

We're officially 51 days into duck season, and as of yesterday afternoon (Monday, 17 Jan), we've smoked 520 birds WITHOUT LEAVING THE FARM A SINGLE TIME. I would assume it safe to say we presently have to set a new goal. The breakdown would be as follows:

Home Field -- 150 birds
Charles -- 355 birds
Amy's -- 9 birds
Big Creek -- 6 birds

AND NOW FOR THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS!!!!

Total harvest records:
Year: Total Harvest:
2010-2011 520
2007-2008 516
2001-2002 487
2009-2010 478
2008-2009 463
2002-2003 456

Record Mallard Harvests:
Year: Total Harvest
2001-2002 280
2010-2011 267
2003-2004 246
2000-2001 243
2007-2008 238
2002-2003 231
1999-2000 180
2005-2006 166
2006-2007 145
2009-2010 138
2008-2009 131
2004-2005 117

Highest Field Harvests
2009-2010 Home 358
2010-2011 Charles' 355
2002-2003 Baser 248
2008-2009 Charles' 214
2000-2001 Charles' 199
2002-2003 Charles' 181
2001-2002 Beedeville 175
2003-2004 Charles' 168
2007-2008 Home 136
2004-2005 Charles' 136
2006-2007 Charles' 114
2005-2006 Home 107
1999-2000 Home 68

Its a TIE!!!!!

So, we're at 516 dead ducks for the season. Just so you'll know, that's a tie for the highest number of ducks we've killed over the course of any given regular season, ever. We hoped to break that record today, but it just wouldn't happen.

For the season, that's 516. 150 of 'em came from the Homer. 355 of 'em came from Chucks. We still haven't left the farm, and we've got 9 days left to break records.

John, Jordan, Blake, Garett & I went back to Chucks and while foggy, we still did fairly well. Left with 14.

14 Ducks
9 Mallards
6 Gadwall.



Sunday morning, January 16, Jordan & I, along with a couple of guests who requested anonimity, hunted chucks and left with 9 birds. That afternoon, John, Jordan, Garett, Papa, Tasha & I went back. It was a good hunt. We killed another 18.

35 Ducks
32 Mallards
2 Lesser Scaup
1 Spoonbill.

Finally, Some Jewelry!

I ain't gonna lie . . . its been a while. I could be wrong, but I believe the last band I put on my lanyard was from 2008, which has been waaaaaay longer than it should have been. Ahh, but there's a new one on there today -- I took it right off a dead mallard drake's leg.

Started out by myself this afternoon, and the first pair of birds that came through the spread were in decent range, and the lead duck was a banded drake, which I reduced to possession in short order. However, when I popped the drake and moved off to the hen, I somehow missed the bird. Dunno how that happened, but it made me a little sad. Nonetheless, I made up for it on the next flock of about 2 dozen birds. Three shots, three dead ducks, and I was officially limited. I called a couple of buddies who asked that they remain nameless, and they came down to get a little action. One of the two guys popped the first 4 birds he shot at, and the second only got two before he had to return for business. Either way, we came out with 10 mallards and did it in less than two hours. Not a bad day. I'm sayin that thawing ice is a good place to be . . . hungry ducks are stupid ducks, and stupid ducks are my favorite kind. In at noon and out by two. Good day!

10 Mallards

Back to the Grind

On Sunday, January 9, 2011, Olivia, John, Jordan & I tried the creek, but came out with skunks.

On Saturday, January 8, Blake, Jordan, Reece, Haun, Tasha, Gates, & I made our return to Chucks. We set up on the blind, but ducks were working the south line, so we moved the spread and went back to it. Unfortunately, it was to no avail. We left with only three birds. However, that afternoon, John & I took a stroll down the levee on Amy's and jumped a flock of birds, from which we killed an additional 5.

8 Ducks, All mallards.

Thursday, January 6, 2011, We did not hunt. On Friday, Jordan, John, & I set up a levee blind on Amy's and give our best attempt at a dry-land rice field hunt. Worked out well enough, and we should have taken limits, but we came out with only a half-dozen.

6 Birds, All Mallards

All By Me Onesy

Unaccompanied, I returned to the field this morning to get a closer look at the empty skies. I saw a grand total of 6 birds, all mallards. I killed 4 of 'em. Not a great day, but I still came out with my limit of mallards. Coulda been worse.

Ever Wonder Where They Go?

. . . I know I sure do. A little rain, a little wind, and poof! No more ducks. Ahh well, it happens several times a year, every year. You'd think I'd be used to it by now. Either way, John, Jordan & I checked Chuck's on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 4, and although we worked a couple of flocks, we never drew a feather. Did enjoy some beautiful weather, though.

Saturday, January 1, 2011, Blake, John, Jordan, Reece, Haun, & the Gipper took a morning trip to Chucks. It was slow, to say the least, and at 9:45 a.m. we had decided that we would call it a morning at 10:00 a.m. Our hope was to get from the 9 ducks we had to the 12 ducks we wanted to preclude dropping our average bird/day kill. Well, things got better. We left at noon with 36 birds, including 9 Mallards, 1 Gadwall, 6 Specks, and 20 Shovelers.

36 Birds
9 Mallards
6 Specks
1 Gawall
20 Shovelers

Total Harvest: 439
B.P.D. 11.86
23 Days of season left.
If we kill 3.3 birds each day between now and the end of season, we'll break the record for total birds harvested in a season. On the other hand, if we have three more days where we kill 26 or more, we'll break the record in 3 hunts.

We gave Marvin's a look on Dec. 30, but quickly realized that the birds just weren't there. Un-detered, Reece, Haun, Jordan, John, & I rolled back into Charles in the afternoon on Friday, Dec. 31, and promptly dropped 12 Mallards and 4 shovelers.

16 Birds
12 Mallards
4 Shovelers

Back At It

Figuring that there ain't no reason to fix what ain't broke, I took Charlie, Olivia, Garrett, Papa, Haun, John, & Jordan back to Chucks for another 12:30 p.m. start time on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Fortunately, we had about a half-hour of sunshine. While the sun was out, the ducks worked well. When the sun went in, things got tough. Nevertheless, not a bad day. We left at 4:00 with 21 birds.

21 Birds
16 Mallards
03 Shovelers
02 Wigeon
Season Total: 387
BPD: 12.5

And We're BACK!

Monday, the 30th day of Duck season '10/11, having thought the matter through, Reece, John, Jordan, Blake, the Mystery Guest & ole Gibby returned to Chuck's at about 1:30 in the p.m. Good call! 28 Birds.

28 Birds
25 Mallards
2 Shovelers
1 Pintail
12.2 BPD
43% Mallards
34% Gadwalls




Sunday, December 26, John, Jordan & I went to Chucks and whittled out 4 mallards and 1 speck.

5 Birds
4 Mallards
1 Speck

Oh, and It Gets Better

Okay, so on my eldest's birthday, Christmas Eve, John, Matthew, Dan, Reece, Olivia and I made what will probably be our last trip to the fabled Home field this season. Slow is probably the best word to describe the hunt, but we did have a couple of birds work the spread. More importantly, the first bird to work well was a mallard hen, and having instructed the boys on what the marching orders would be for the morning, I let Olivia get off the first shot. A single mallard hen swung through the decoys from the East, and at the point I thought she had a decent shot, I told my girl to take her. Olivia quickly sprang to her feet and got a shot off, but didn't draw a feather. Instinctively, the rest of the crew sprang into action and slung their weapons skyward. Fortunately, just as the safeties came off, we heard another shot, which came from the business end of a 20 gauge. I looked down the blind at my brother-in-law and asked "did you shoot?" "Nope" said John. Quietly, Olivia looked up and said "I did." Bang! that was it. Dishragged her first confirmed solo-shot on a mallard on the wing! Daddy couldn't have been more proud. 5 Specks, 1 Gadwall, 1 Mallard. 7 Birds total.

7 Birds
5 Specks
1 Mallard
1 Gadwall





Christmas day I skipped the hunt . . . not because I wasn't willing to go, but because there weren't any ducks worth hunting in a place I wouldn't screw up for everyone else.

Had to End . . .

. . . finally did today. John, his friend John whose name I dare not try to pronounce, J-Hawk, Garrett, Olivia, & old Gibby made a final trek to Chuck's this morning. Hunted till 10:00 a.m., and left with only 7 mallards. No complaints here.

7 Birds, All Mallards.

Blessed

Yup, that's what I said: blessed. Not lucky, not good, just blessed. Papa, Danger Dave, J-Hawk, the Kid, & I graced Chuck's blind once again this morning and witnessed a green-headed spectacle under bluebird skies and absolutely perfect conditions. North winds at 11 mph meant the ducks would set just south of the blind and float effortlessly into the spread. With wide eyes and heavy trigger fingers we watched as God's creation danced in light winds 10 yards west of the blind. Full limits of mallards today. 27 birds.

27 Ducks.
20 Mallards
05 Pintails
01 Lonely Northern Shoveler

Season Total: 319
Daily Average: 12.76

Right Back At It

This morning, Dec. 21, 2010, Jordan & I entertained the Baker boys. Again, like yesterday, we had a very, very slow start. Nonethtless, we worked large flocks of mallards later in the morning and wound up scratching out a decent bag. 27 Birds.

27 Birds
14 Mallards
04 Gadwalls
03 Specks
02 Snows
02 Wigeon
02 Shovelers
292 for the season.

You Can Whack Birds on Mondays, Too . . .

I'll be honest . . . things slowed way down today. Birds were there, but we needed sunshine, as they weren't apt to finish with the grace we've grown accustomed to over the last few days. Nonetheless, Papa, Jordan, John, Tom, Grant, Casey Spencer, and I whittled away at 'em until we had 30 in hand. We could have stuck it out, but then again, there's always tomorrow. Suffice it to say that we're pace'n ourselves.

30 Birds.
24 Mallards
3 Gadwall
3 Pintail

23 Days of season down.
265 Dead, many more wounded.
11.5 B.P.D.

Not Bad for a Sunday Morning

Not satisfied with merely smokin dux on Chux, we decided to whack 'em on the old homer as well. Tom, Grant, Casey Spencer, Jordan, John, Dave, Blake, & ole Gibby made sport of 'em one more time. We left in time for church with 28. After noon, Garret and Olivia got in on some action and picked off another 11 birds. 39 for the day, and things ain't so bad!

39 Birds.
10 Mallards
21 Gadwall
6 Wigeon
1 Green Wing
1 Shoveler

It Was a Grey Duck Wackin'

Ouch. 'Nuff said. Clear skies, upper 20's, thin ice, dead ducks. My partners in crime were the Kid, Danger Dave, Matthew, J-Hawk, Jake, and Blake. Left the blind at 8:15 with full bags. Not a bad way to end the week. 46 Birds.

46 Birds
25 Gadwall
18 Mallards
2 Shovelers
1 Wigeon