Pushing Ducks around on opener

[Scott M]

I'm headed to a private little marsh on opener but am a little worried that my group will only be able to cover one side of the lake and that the birds will be able to settle in on the other sides. I'm going to ask the other landowners if they are hunting also, otherwise I may have to recruit a few more hunters and get them out early to position themselves around the lake.

Heck, even on public lands pushing the ducks around could be a problem if the low water keeps people away from some of the more shallow potholes. Anybody else concerned about this?

[lanyard]

Only after the third hour.

Typically opener for me goes like this:

Get to spot at sunrise, flush 200 mallards out of hole. 7:30 ducks come back. 7:45 dog can't stand it no more, ducks get nervous and leave. Put decoys out at 8:00. From 8:27 until 8:57 ducks in decoys.

9:00-9:15 gives new meaning to 'time relativity'... no ducks... 15 minutes feels like an hour.

Put 1-1.5 limits down by 10 for two guys. Shoot up to 1 away from a two man limit or one into a three man limit by 11:00 or so. Wait one hour.

No more ducks by 11:55, call it quits at noon. 11:59:59 one flippin' mallard drops in, maybe we get it, maybe not. Either way the dude that needs one duck or the motivation of open limit on the third has knuckleheads thinking we should stick around now.

1:00, still no more ducks, it's 105 degrees, pick-up decoys. Leaving marsh, flock of teal buzzes blind we just left, everyone says 'SEE, TOLD YOU WE SHOULD'VE STUCK AROUND'.

I continue walking carrying all the decoys, shell boxes,a dozen or so birds, etc. while others look at departing teal complaining they don't have it good enough.

Oh yeah, the 'others' are typically dad and father in-law... guess I wouldn't have it any other way

[2 DA GILLS]

I had not even thought about it, I guess I was just concerned with seeing some ducks. It is valid point, I know the area of the state I will be opening the season has been very low on water. Not sure what this current rain will do to help, but it could be a very tough time getting our boats to float.

If it is too much work in some areas, some guys may just skip it. There could be some outstanding wetlands out there that are real low on water, but full of ducks. They may be tough to hunt, but that is where a person needs to get creative.

[Seabass77]

Lanyard, that is hillarious! Too True.

[hanson]

Quote:

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Lanyard, that is hillarious! Too True.

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Thats great!

I'm glad I have spot that I don't have to get to at sunrise on opening day. We treat opener just like any other morning knowing what time sunrise and legal shooting time are, we just don't have to get up as early.

Hopefully this opener is like opener's past with flocks and flocks of ringbills diving right into the spread with no initial flyby. I love it! Give em a couple weeks and they like to take the tour a couple times before committing, or not.

[tealitup]

DA,

Where are you from, I could help you out with the other side of the marsh!

Seriously, the best of luck to you

[BoxMN]

Lanyard, do you hunt with me?!?!?! That is exactly what happens to us too! hahah! Can't wait for it to happen again!

Good luck this opener and year!

[jblabsnduck]

Don't listen to Lanyard, he doesn't know how to hunt anyways.

That and he doesn't take the right people with him.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

dont let the low water levels and bare ground keep you from hunting those spots with ducks. get a layout blind and brush it up out on the exposed sandbars or mud flats, etc. its a great way to get closer to the action. thats what i will be doing on opener.

[lanyard]

Well JB, maybe the right people should go when and where I ask them!

You still got that hen cluckin' about opener or are you thinking about doing a venture? Invite still rides!

[jblabsnduck]

Thanks brother but I am going to play it safe.

Besides there are to many geese around to be had at the goose field.