Anticapation WEEK

[Gordie]

Well guy and gals we have a week of anticapatining the hunt ,a week of final preperations, a week of counting down the minuets until we say take em, and a week of waiting for what we have waited for from the last day of season last year.

What are some of your final preparations that you need to do?

What kind of checks do you go thru as opening day draws near?

How do you think the opening morning will fair for ya?

I have some finishing touches on my blind and will hopefully post a few pics before opener

I need to string up a few new decoys for the season,double check my shotguns .

Todays weather really is getting the itch going and what we as waterfowlers live for.. I just hope its like today next Saturday morning..

Remember these words this week to get you thru “TAKE EM”

Good Luck and Stay Safe

[tracker x-2]

Just went out and marked a few spots to hide in the cat tails. Maybe string some decoys and check and recheck my plug/proper license's. And try to get enough sleep to make up for lack of i'll get friday night!!!

[Fairchild_82]

Well this year will be my brother and I's first time actually having all the 'necessities' to go out and take waterfowling seriously. New boat,decoys,camo, boots, Duck calls, new gun. So I went to Gander to grab new shells today and to just over everything to see if i can find something that will help me out in anyway. i've been working on my calling and reading up on new spots, decoy layout, and other strategies. Excited for the new season. can't wait til friday!

[RumRiverRat]

The big thing I have done is buy a new Duck Boat.

Put the blind on today, stripped, cleaned and lubed the shotgun.

Sorted Decoys and bagged them for the opener.

Gotta wash all my camo clothes and sort through them, maybe buy a new face mask or two.

Need to do a bunch of internet scouting to find the best spot to go on opener.

[Jim Uran]

Up in the mahnomen area I've seen a lot of geese, but the ducks aren't around. Ive done some checking around in my usual spots and they just aren't there. Hopefully things turn around in a week otherwise I'll be out bowhunting instead lol

[311Hemi]

Todays weather really is getting the itch going and what we as waterfowlers live for.. I just hope its like today next Saturday morning..

Better bring your sunscreen and swim suit...the forecast for Sunday is looking like we would be better off at the beach vs in the blind...even in northern MN!

Either way....the anticipation is big. We finalized most of our plans over the weekend and now it's just a matter of getting everything together and checking over the list. Can't wait to get out there this weekend! Maybe we will cross paths this weekend elwood if your hunting the same area as last year.

[Gordie]

Maybe we will cross paths this weekend elwood if your hunting the same area as last year.

I will ne a little farther North this year stay at winni and this is minnesota the weather people can hardly get yesturdays westher right so I dont worry about the long range forcast

[BoxMN]

I did some scouting in new area for the "new" opener date, and we have to extend the strings on some of our woodie dekes for the spots I found. Actually will probably just convert some to jerk string dekes instead, will be easier. That is main thing, the rest is kinda always ready to go

I did sharpen my knives, hopefully will get to use them, haha!

I slapped some AquaSeal on my waders, nearly every seam. Hopefully I got that dratted leak from last year...

I also cleaned out the duck boat from all my fishing lures on Saturday. Holy cow, I had a tackle box worth of cranks and spinnerbaits and Gulp on the dash! Now it is ready to slap the blind on on Friday night.

Bringing my two grandsons out, the 14yo is a seasoned vet, the 9 yo will be his first hunting trip ever. Will bring a special decoy for the Red Ryder

[rbs]

A couple times out for early goose helped me in the prep department. I just need to get the duck dekes out of the garage and check the strings and rig up the jerk string. Check on Friday night what the wind will be in the morning and decide whether or not to bring the winduk...thing sucks if it isn't blowing 15mph (says 5mph but it lies!)

[PierBridge]

Quote:

Remember these words this week to get you thru “TAKE EM”

Good call!

[HNTNBUX]

Yesterday I went through the guns again checking plugs, lubricating, etc, touching up the blind on my boat and loading everything. Today while reading through the regs I realized that the motorized decoy restriction will apply to the new motion decoys I made and not just the robo ducks. Now I have to make sure to unpack them and set them aside for another day. I sure was excited to see how they work and will have to wait another two weeks. The waiting never seems to end.....

[Muthagoose]

Putting the line clips/droppers on some ringers and Geyes tonight.Listening to the wind has me remembering 4 days last years super low that came through and how fun it was dropping 28 birds...

Finished flocking the 4dz new pro2's today that will fit on the sand bar real nice. Left the dock spread at the lake last fall.

Spent the last couple days teasing the geese in town.. Getting them to swing over the parking lot ya sure get a little audience. Must be the new call...

While packing the shell bag thats when the problem came up.....

Having a HARD time on decide'n on take'n my old wingmaster or the new gold 12.. Just find it hard to change dance partners...

Hey Elwood I had the only guy going with me change his mind IF by chance the back hurts to much to put that SWEEEEEET boat in and ya need a easy hunt I got room and a couple cold beers for ya..

Yep seen the weather man change the forecast to lower and lower temps.. Looks like friday nights gonna have those poorly insulated teal and woodies on the move..

[nate larson]

Wow Muthagoose, you are right! Just checked out the weather and they are saying 10 degrees lower for the weekend than last time I looked! That is good news...I might even drag my butt out on the slough on Sunday, in a dang wedding the day before. How are you liking your pro2's? Did you get them on amazon? If so, I was the one who found them on sale!

[Muthagoose]

Love'm now they are flocked.Just makes'm POP...

Thanks man for posting it, @ $139 a dz wish I would have bought 4 dz more,next year I guess.....

[Gordie]

While packing the shell bag thats when the problem came up.....

Having a HARD time on decide'n on take'n my old wingmaster or the new gold 12.. Just find it hard to change dance partners...

Hey Elwood I had the only guy going with me change his mind IF by chance the back hurts to much to put that SWEEEEEET boat in and ya need a easy hunt I got room and a couple cold beers for ya..

mutha I was the same way with a dance partner as I loved my 870 so much but once I put that gold agaisnt my shoulder it was easy to get a divorce for the old remington but I still kept it loaded for geese you know..besides two dance partners arnt so bad

For opener I will be up by Winni with my two sons I wish I could make it over to hunt with you but if I leave those boys behind I might have a divorce that I would really have to worry about

I was kinda thinking that I might be able to swing up the following weekend iffin your calender is not full.

My boat your decoys=birds in the bag

I still need to talk with you about a kitty cat sometime yet.

HNTNBUX maybe I'll run into you as well. I was thinking of heading to that cabin I was telling you about (if it is to nice in the afternoon for birds) to grab the boat for some pannie fishing.

Good Luck

[goblueM]

teal season opens for 5 days here starting on Monday... saw about 100 of em while out working last night. Hopefully they will still be there, they've been in the same spot morning and night for the last week.

pretty excited about this year, got a couple new spots, one more hunting partner, and working on making a diver spread out of dock foam salvaged from the river

i'm hopin to shoot my first canvasback and bluebill this fall

[Muthagoose]

Elwood We dont need ya getting divorced...

Yea its not a huge deal on opener to miss a little and like you the golds fitting its just hard.Sure want to have it settled in by the time mallard grinding starts...

I may be in the cities next weekend got nephews moved here from Cali and they have NO idea on how to get a house ready for winter plus I think Ive got the ruger carbine sold and I hear Joes crab shack calling me..

BUT if the weather keeps up flip flopping it might prove good to get all my todo list done so its all kill'n time.. I even warned my students to be ready for a reschedule. 2 of my students were on the same page when I mentioned migration...

Goblue once you start making your own its ADDICTING. Be warned LOLOL

[TylerS]

I honestly haven't even dug through my stuff yet. I suppose I should, what with the clock ticking down and all...

I DID buy the new magnetic wings for my 10-year-old Mojo, though. Those things are the bee's knees! And since they're corrugated plastic, the loud vibration from the old metal wings has been all but eliminated.

I am in a bit of a dilemma. I normally carpool with my uncle, but he's leaving early Friday for some reason and is driving himself. The relatives will be staying in a hotel for two nights. I need to decide if I want to head up Friday, and pay for two nights at the hotel ($35 a night) or wake up early, drive the 2.5 hours to the slough, set up, and just spend one night at the hotel. Option A means another night of laughs, camaraderie and decent sleep (mental note: bring earplugs!). But I'm leaning toward option A, especially since I'm not splitting gas anymore and the extra $35 in my pocket would help the sting. Thoughts?

[nate larson]

Just get up early and drive. You won't be able to sleep anyways!

[TylerS]

Just get up early and drive. You won't be able to sleep anyways!

Good point! I think that's what I'll do!

[Stringerless!]

Scrambling. Boats to paint. Dekes to rig and check. Pulled the canoe out and it does not even seem seaworthy. Kid left it out in the swamp all year and the patches all look like they are failing miserably. Imagine that ! Dang jon boat leaks like a sieve. Gonna try some marine goop. everything else has failed so far. only the 14 foot lund is ready but it will not do in Carlos Avery. Going to fight the minions. Early opener has caught me alittle off gaurd. Will have to regroup after the weekend. Eldest son is coming home from college to go. In the duckboat with both my sons all weekend. Life is better than good !!!!!!

[Gordie]

Scrambling. Boats to paint. Dekes to rig and check. Pulled the canoe out and it does not even seem seaworthy. Kid left it out in the swamp all year and the patches all look like they are failing miserably. Imagine that ! Dang jon boat leaks like a sieve. Gonna try some marine goop. everything else has failed so far. only the 14 foot lund is ready but it will not do in Carlos Avery. Going to fight the minions. Early opener has caught me alittle off gaurd. Will have to regroup after the weekend. Eldest son is coming home from college to go. In the duckboat with both my sons all weekend. Life is better than good !!!!!!

Stringerless I have a 10ft jon you can use if need be I'm in Zimmerman

[Stringerless!]

Thanks Elwood ! I really appreciate the offer ! We will get by. Taking my oldest boys friend and his Dad too. I think it may be his Dads first time hunting.

[Farley]

I'm leaning toward option A, especially since I'm not splitting gas anymore and the extra $35 in my pocket would help the sting. Thoughts?

I would go the night before. Unless your buddys are like mine and you end up at the bar and that $35 turns into $135 really quick. But if they're more the type to just hang in the hotel and have a few and watch a movie or whatever then I would go in a heartbeat.

As far as getting ready, I havent done anything, been bowhunting almost every night since Sat, all I have to do is go down to the pond and take my blind off the boat(the grass is about 4 years old and no good anymore), grab the few dekes I have in the boat and make sure they all have strings and weights. Got to remember to put my plug in the gun though. Friday night we usually get together at my place, get our stuff together, have a few beers, and paint something cammo.

[TylerS]

Ya, that's the lone temptation. But we'll have Saturday night for some fun. And this year the hotel "lost" our reservations (third or fourth year in a row) for the Hunter shack, so we've been confined to two smaller rooms. Won't be as fun with the crew split up...