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Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
#1519470
07/08/10 05:05 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 757
kellygunner
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 757 |
The general consensus for the 2009-10 duck campaign was fair at best. Too much water was probably the key factor in below average hunting. Most of the forage on the ground early was washed away by flooding. Some boat ramps were closed early in the season. Hunting picked up a bit in December, then the first freeze of 2010 locked up ponds with thick ice. The bright spot was the number of wood ducks in the timber.-This is what they said about last year with all the rain. This year with all the this rain again and no time for the good plants to grow up.......same mess we had last year. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe some one is going to chime in and say that the water is far enough down that the smartweed is going to actually have a chance to grow. I think it's going to be a tough grind of a year. Please tell I'm wrong Kelly
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kellygunner]
#1519489
07/08/10 05:17 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916
TreeBass
Old Weller
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Old Weller
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 23,916 |
just means more deer hunting
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kellygunner]
#1519521
07/08/10 06:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 658
aggiegadwall
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 658 |
Things are looking good out West
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kellygunner]
#1519579
07/08/10 11:30 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,561
Cappy_TX
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,561 |
Kelly ... when you're as old as I am and have hunted for more than 50 seasons, you'll learn one thing positively. There's NO positive way of predicting a season in advance.
I've had some absolutely horrible seasons with few birds when that year's migration numbers were supposedly at record levels. I've also had absolutely terrific years with more limits than you'd believe in years where the Pond Counts and migration numbers were poor.
Same for weather and water conditions. As long as I've had some water to hunt over and some food in the area, I've always been ok or better. The best has usually been as a result of snow cover and cold temps North of me with favorable duck-like conditions where we are.
The one thing I can guarantee is being grateful for each and every season with wife, dawgs, friends and a few birds or more between us, and just still being able to get out regularly.
Cappy ... At my side for thirteen years, in my heart forever.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: Cappy_TX]
#1519629
07/08/10 12:30 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570
Marcstar
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,570 |
Icing up is never an issue here in central texas. Too bad there are no ducks here.
Dear Lord please bullwhip me for saying this but I agree, Marcstar is in the lead. Please nobody use this as a quote!!!
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: Marcstar]
#1519696
07/08/10 01:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 735
TBK
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 735 |
Doesn't have to be a perfect season every year. We'll all go hunting regardless and enjoy what we got.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: TBK]
#1519734
07/08/10 01:46 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,220
Moose K
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,220 |
I'll find 'em, not worried about it.
I thought last year was good. The early season in Nortex was slow, so I went west and south and it was hammertime.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: TBK]
#1519742
07/08/10 01:49 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,568
ducknbass
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,568 |
last year I feel like I had a pretty good season. Dd not get to hunt a whole whole lot. Moved twice during duck season. But wen i did get out I usually had a pretty good hunt. Had lots of mallards, and woodies when I did get out. I am sure this year will be just as good. But grocery's will be limited possibly more than last year. The lakes just havent come down so you wont get the growth. I am still wanting the lakes to get 10+ feet low again I have some killer holes when they are. But I will take what I get.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: ducknbass]
#1519761
07/08/10 01:59 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 405
Gengo
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 405 |
We had a great season last year because teal held up in our area. This year will be even better. And if it sucks, we will still all be in the check station before hunts bitching about the lack of birds - but still hunting as much as possible.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: TBK]
#1519765
07/08/10 02:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,228
duckiller
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,228 |
Kelly, Most of the spots that we hunt are actually in pretty good shape right now. Many places are just below pool level and falling. If the rain will hold back a bit for the next few months we will be looking really good.
Either way, there will be plenty of ducks to shoot this year, conditions only decide where and how easy the hunting will be.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: duckiller]
#1519815
07/08/10 02:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,124
WhiskeyandMe
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,124 |
Either way, there will be plenty of ducks to shoot this year, conditions only decide where and how easy the hunting will be. Quote of the Pre-Season!!! Right there! Well said! J.J.
Looking for a Deer, Dove, Duck, Crow, Goose, Hog, or Turkey Hunt? Check us out! www.kentoutdoors.com
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: WhiskeyandMe]
#1519856
07/08/10 02:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,931
#Hayraker
Chihuahua
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Chihuahua
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,931 |
during the drought 8 or 9 years ago we (duckhunters) blamed the decrease in birds on a lack of water.
now it is too much water.
hopefully this year it will be just right.
#sigline
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: #Hayraker]
#1519980
07/08/10 04:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 658
aggiegadwall
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 658 |
I'd rather be hunting than on the couch no mater the outcome. Not to mention momma is usually ready for me to get out of the house after spending all summer with me.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: duckiller]
#1521227
07/09/10 03:20 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 757
kellygunner
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 757 |
Kelly, Most of the spots that we hunt are actually in pretty good shape right now. Many places are just below pool level and falling. If the rain will hold back a bit for the next few months we will be looking really good.
Either way, there will be plenty of ducks to shoot this year, conditions only decide where and how easy the hunting will be. Did he say hold off on the rain, the weather today could of drowned a frog! This subject is only for people who hunt public, they can't change what happens on the lakes they hunt. Kelly
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kellygunner]
#1521361
07/09/10 04:47 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,695
Cochise
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,695 |
If we can go into the season with my local lake about 3ft low, that would be ideal. It was right at pool, or higher this year and the hunting sucked; don't get me wrong..there were birds...but the high water levels made it very tough for anyone trying to walk in..Luckily, if we do have another wet late summer, early fall..I've got a kayak to fix that little problem..
With that said..I need it to stop raining for a good week so I can get my fields cut and baled...then rain some more
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kellygunner]
#1524706
07/11/10 04:27 AM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,511
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,511 |
I think it's going to be a tough grind of a year. Please tell I'm wrong Kelly For my lease I'm liking the rain, I have control over the water level. Public maybe a different story.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: Guy]
#1524755
07/11/10 05:13 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839
kdub
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,839 |
After season ended last year, I found a killer spot that will be great if we stay wet. I'm thinking this year I'll try doing some things different if we have high water levels again.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kdub]
#1524856
07/11/10 12:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,072
QuackStacker
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,072 |
i hope to use my boats this year to access more spots. im without a truck right now, so getting back into the sticks is dependent on my hunting buddies... hope i have a better season than last.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kdub]
#1526337
07/12/10 12:17 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,603
Charlito
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,603 |
After season ended last year, I found a killer spot that will be great if we stay wet. I'm thinking this year I'll try doing some things different if we have high water levels again. I think we had the makings to a good year. I just think we didn't adapt to the high water like we should have.
the thing about baiting is, even a rookie hunter could have a 170 bird season if they bait holes
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: Charlito]
#1527528
07/12/10 10:49 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 406
Trigger27
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 406 |
I had a killer year last year! Was not disappointed in it at all. Always came home w/ something.
50 Days Till Dove Season!!!
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: Trigger27]
#1527594
07/12/10 11:45 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118
TopH20
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118 |
Last year was magical. In late November, I was hunting with some men in the Trinity River bottoms and we had a so-so morning. About 10:00 am, I called with what I thought were a small wad of Widgeons. As it turned out, six Pintail landed right smack dab in the middle of the decoys. January the 11th and 12th, there were 4 to 5 inch thick platesof ice at the boat ramp we wrestled with. The day before was terrible since the ice was still in the timber. The night of the 10th, ice flat more locked up ALL of the rice fields within a 20 mile radius and the ducks had no where else to go but the timber. When Dad and I would motor into the woods, you could hear thousandsof hen mallards on the water. "BAH-baah-baaah-bah---Baaaah-bah-bah-bah..."---everywhere. It was surreal and I have only seen it like this four of five times in almost 5 decades on earth. Miss Tootse made the scene as well last year. She is dynamite---a lot of power in a small package. We still have a lot to do but she is extremely intense and not afraid of anything. I hope and pray for health and the ability to see a few sunrises with our boys and my father. The rest is a just a bonus. I have probably shown these pics here five times. My apologies for the repeats.
You make your own luck.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: TopH20]
#1528224
07/13/10 04:35 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 757
kellygunner
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 757 |
I don't think that ole toph20 explained that the mallard pics are from arkansas. Kelly
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kellygunner]
#1528350
07/13/10 11:39 AM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118
TopH20
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118 |
I didn't want to do that Kelly. I wanted to get everyone fired up. Three seasons ago, I killed more in TX than AR.
You make your own luck.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: kellygunner]
#1528439
07/13/10 01:11 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 691
Texan1554
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 691 |
I don't think that ole toph20 explained that the mallard pics are from arkansas. Kelly I spent a number of trips last season hosting buddies from Stuttgart here cause they didn't have the birds. The only times they did... Like TopH20 said, was when the ice hit. Because of the floods every field around had water in it, so every field froze, but the floods also had the water in the trees still high enough that it was flowing and couldn't freeze. Every duck on the prairie was pilled in the public waters that day. Even in the toughest times you can catch a break, doesn't matter what state you're in.
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Re: Everybody is fired up for duck season..........well
[Re: Texan1554]
#1528520
07/13/10 01:57 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118
TopH20
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 118 |
When there is rice in the field and the water is not frozen, those ducks will get right in the middle of a 5,000 acre farm and not even think about going to the woods until O dark thirty.
There are a ton of ducks by they all have PHD's now and given the choice, they will be where you can't get to them. I don't want to give something with a brain that small too much credit but I have been fooled too many times not to think otherwise.
You make your own luck.
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