Mid-Week Getaway

[Deltaman]

Date: Wednesday 1/25/17

Time: Midday

Location: Mobile River Delta

Cloud Cover: Cloudy off and on most of day, and the last day of South wind before the incoming cold front changes the duck pattern

Wind Direction and Velocity: Southeast, 15-20 mph

Temperature: Warm...........mid 70's

Moon phase:

Special Notes: With the season coming to a close the upcoming weekend, could not resist taking a day off, in hopes of catching the birds that have to come off of the rough bay

Waterfowl Activity: Surprisingly good, as we didn't launch until 12:00 p.m., and couldn't get the decoys out fast enough. The Gadwalls were pouring in off of the bay, and we were in a spot they liked.

Waterfowl Responsiveness: Late season, educated birds were skittish, but gave us enough opportunities to whack a limit.

Hunters: 2, Stepson-Dustin and myself

Guns: Benelli M1, SKB Pump

Malfunctions: None

Dog(s): None

Special Equipment: 7 dz Gadwall decoys

Curses: None

Kudos: Was nice to see plenty of birds for a change.

Birds By Species: 12 Gadwalls (10 of'em bull drakes)

Photo Ops:


Lagniappe: Best hunt of the season for me!

[Rick]

Glad taking that day off paid off. I've hunted Mobile Delta parties this year, and neither had much good to say about the current state of waterfowling there.

[Deltaman]

Been the shittiest duck year I have ever seen Rick, but not because of the birds. Mud motors are a great thing in the hands of responsible hunters...........unfortunately, we have very few of those in the mix here, but do have what seems to be hundreds of supposed duck hunters that love to ride and jump birds so that they can "see" them. I have also watched countless times as some hunters make periodic runs through the bays to jump birds so they can't gang up. We also have a mud motor club that does mud rides in the heart of duck season.......wtf???? Had the same problem with air boats back in the early 70's, and thankfully, the state had the good sense to outlaw them during the duck season. Unsure what will happen in the future, but if something doesn't give, we can kiss duck hunting goodbye in the lower delta. Pushing 60, I am on the tail end of it, but the future for our younger generation of duck hunters, doesn't look very promising.

[aunt betty]

Nice looking strap of ducks.

It sure is different nowdays.
Back in the late-70's almost nobody around here in East-Central Illinois hunted waterfowl. That was before no-till. The geese and ducks simply flew over the plowed up ground because there was no food until you got way way down by Carbondale or further south. Anyone who hunted waterfowl in my county would have to travel quite a ways.
Me? I was jumping ponds and ditches doing it the hard way because I was just a kid.

Today? OMG the no-till has ducks and geese all over the place at times. They come and go...mostly go.
If you hit the right day before during or after a good storm it's good but everyone knows it and the competition is like Arkansas at Rainey Brake. It's got plain crazy. Parking lots full at the ramp? Heck I hunted there for decades and was the only one.

SanChris Lake for instance has a drawing for 100 (maybe 101 or 102) marked sites you can set up at. You set up between two signs usually a cove. Pretty generous area. Kind of cool. Back in the early 80's it was common for 5-10 boats to show up for the drawing. One side of the lake sucked so nobody hardly ever went there. Now? 100+ boats and it gets drawn out.

The good old days ended sometime about the time that TV show came out. Guys with beards. Somethin' like that.
Next year will be more better.

[Darren]

but do have what seems to be hundreds of supposed duck hunters that love to ride and jump birds so that they can "see" them.

Same thing here in much of S. Louisiana, friggin yahoo's.

Glad you had the conditions come together for you to get even with them before the season closes out, nice haul!!