Too hot… but finally pulling the trigger

[William Reinicke]

Worked really hard to kill a few. Had some friends fly in to hunt with again. In all my years of duck hunting, never had to kill a rattler. Just speaks to how warm it is still unfortunately. Get setup, waiting for flights to start, and about 20 feet behind my buddies head where he laid, said he kept hearing a buzzing. After some investigation, we determined what we thought to be a rattler. Stick in the hole and it hissed like a bull snake. We don’t kill bull snakes, I love em, I’ll save them at all cost. Been known to keep a few in my shop while doing yard work and then releasing them when done. So he tricked us good this time as we decided to leave it alone and felt better it was a good snake, not a bad one. A couple hours go by and this big dude made the mistake of showing his face and then the hunt was on. Poked at him, got him to come out just far enough and a mojo hole to the top of the head. We don’t let rattlers live. Too many horror stories in these parts. Never in all my years heard a rattler hiss like that. Bulls puff up with air and hiss real loud and aggressive. I would of bet every penny I had it was a bull snake when he hissed. Almost fooled us into letting him live.

Load the boat down heavier than it’s ever been. No chance an outboard was making it to the ducks. So it was all mudmotor this weekend. So it took some tinkering but finally found a prop to run the massive load at 22-24 mph with my rig. Anyways, killed some ducks, called the trip a day early, lovely def system went out on a truck and put the good ol Chevy down to limp mode max 5mph. Ended up having to tow my friend home that last 45 miles. Always an adventure! Good times with good friends!

 

[William Reinicke]

Now that I know my tow hitch is strong enough to pull a truck home in desperate times, I think it can tow my little boat safely. Might sneak a hunt in before it goes to the shop for repairs. Then gotta get my mind right for a quick cow elk tag to fill my freezer up. Hopefully by then it’s cold and @tod osier will put enough pressure on the birds to send a few my way.

 

[Eric Patterson]

In all my years of duck hunting I've never come across a moccasin during the season. Before the season a big yes, but during hunting season they are hibernating. I've seen A LOT of moccasins over the years and a few copperheads too, but only one rattlesnake which was just this past summer. Big old fella scooting across the road.

About 20 years ago Jeff Smith and I were hunting the mouth of a small river under flood conditions. We tied the boat under a dense tree. After we settled in for the hunt I looked up a couple feet from my head was a very large and lethargic rat snake who I assume was forced out of his hole by flood waters. Makes me wonder if snakes drown by the thousands during winter floods. I bet during these mild and dry winters we are having the snake numbers in the bottoms are growing.

 

[tod osier]

Now that I know my tow hitch is strong enough to pull a truck home in desperate times, I think it can tow my little boat safely. Might sneak a hunt in before it goes to the shop for repairs. Then gotta get my mind right for a quick cow elk tag to fill my freezer up. Hopefully by then it’s cold and @tod osier will put enough pressure on the birds to send a few my way.

14 F this morning and my birds all left overnight. Saw some new divers today, but not enough to hunt and all my diver stuff is back east anyway. I was definitely thinking about your full moon comment as the sun rose over an empty lake.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

14 F this morning and my birds all left overnight.

Strong NNW wind this morning but they didn't show up where I was at. One pair of Mallards made a pass early, then empty skies the rest of the morning. 25 degrees with wind chill at 11 degrees. The decoys were icing up as they bobbed in the waves. Sure glad they sell portable heaters.

 

[Fred McIntire]

It turned cold here in Indiana from Saturday night into Sunday morning. The high was 58 degrees on Saturday. Woke up to around mid to upper 30's this morning, overcast and calling for snow Sunday afternoon. We did get some snow Sunday afternoon with winds around 15-20 MPH, gusting to 30 MPH. Its down to 28 degrees as we approach midnight. I felt like today was going to be one of the best days of the season so far with the weather front moving through.

I tried really hard to get out this weekend for the last few days of the short season in the central zone; however, it was not to be. I battled outboard engine problems, trailer light issues, and boat wiring issues. I had decided that if I could get the other issues resolved I could make the run to my blind using just a trolling motor; however, I finally resigned myself to the fact that it just wasn't happening around 2:00 PM this afternoon. With wind gusts of 25-30 MPH that would have been a foolish decision.

I have no one to blame but myself. I've had all summer to get ready but between working 2 jobs, as well as family commitments, I just didn't make it the priority I should have. I know that you can rarely pull the boat out and head to the water with it without going through a punch list a mile long. I'll definitely be ready for the long season though.

Fred

 

[Don Mintz]

I've seen rattlers around here a couple of times in October while deer hunting and chukar hunting. I figure by this time of year they are beginning to congregate around denning areas. Our temps right now are pretty average for this time of years, but here in South Central Idaho we need some ice up north to move birds. There are a few local mallards around, but all on private ground. Our green heads, (the ones with the white spot on their face) won't arrive till after thanksgiving, maybe the first of december, then it will be game on till the end of January. We drove quite a bit of river last weekend and didn't see more than 50 birds. The trout are in the stream we often hunt already, so the fly rods will be with us scouting this coming weekend. I don't think there was much of a local waterfowl hatch this year, with our tromping around all september we saw only a few teal and spoonies. I think William must be shortstopping their return in the spring and the birds don't go north anymore, lol.

 

[Noah Shaver]

Funny you mention the rattler, I was helping my old man put up some deer stands yesterday and had a 5 foot black snake slither right between my legs. I was on the ground raising up the stand to him with a rope, so I was looking straight up. I heard the leaves rustle but didn't think anything about it. Looked down a couple seconds later and the snake had just passed between my feet.

It was 73 degrees yesterday afternoon and felt like a summer day. Big cold front moved through and it's 38 this morning. Supposed to be 26 tomorrow morning. Hopefully winter is finally here.

 

[rfberan]

Sat down in front of these two. Never saw them too intent on releasing a trout. Didn't rattle until had been sitting for couple minutes. I don't think the female struck as it would have been over the male's (smaller black one) head. My back was within 3 feet of them. I've had two more encounters (not that close) in same area so I have to believe there is a den nearby.

 

[Todd Duncan Tennyson]

Shit, that is a good sized rattler. I ran into one on Halloween day in an area I've hiked for nearly 50 years (SW Oregon) and had never encountered one before. Rattled and coiled and was able to keep the dog clear of it. Also saw a California King snake in the same area a week earlier (never seen one before in all my life.). They are renowned for occasionally growing 2 heads!
I used to look for snakes when I was a kid. Really was fascinated by them. Wanted to be a herpetologist.

 

[William Reinicke]

In all my years of duck hunting I've never come across a moccasin during the season. Before the season a big yes, but during hunting season they are hibernating. I've seen A LOT of moccasins over the years and a few copperheads too, but only one rattlesnake which was just this past summer. Big old fella scooting across the road.

About 20 years ago Jeff Smith and I were hunting the mouth of a small river under flood conditions. We tied the boat under a dense tree. After we settled in for the hunt I looked up a couple feet from my head was a very large and lethargic rat snake who I assume was forced out of his hole by flood waters. Makes me wonder if snakes drown by the thousands during winter floods. I bet during these mild and dry winters we are having the snake numbers in the bottoms are growing.

Not sure, but I would imagine some do. Snakes swim pretty darn good. I will never forget I was scouting a lake many years ago, had to pee so bad so I pulled over, jumped out and did my business. I climbed back in the boat and a rattler was trying to slither in the boat, all i could see was the head going side to side across the boat. He was doing just fine, but I punched it, had my buddy hold the dog, and then turned around and killed that sucker. He was a big one too, probably pushing 5 feet. They're nasty critters, and I know most say they are pretty harmless, but I dont like em. Thats one snake that has to die when its around me.

 

[William Reinicke]

14 F this morning and my birds all left overnight. Saw some new divers today, but not enough to hunt and all my diver stuff is back east anyway. I was definitely thinking about your full moon comment as the sun rose over an empty lake.

ya it finally cooled off here. Going to warm back up next two days. Future forecast shows it finally cools off here like 11/20 - 11/22. So thats when Ill get real serious about it. Honestly though, if there isnt weather on the ground, birds find ways to keep water open in freezing conditions. So if food is accessible, we dont always get our birds. The only reason I had such a good season last year was because we had a snow storm that came through 11/9 and it covered all of colorado. HUGE push of mallard and I had them all season long. It was a great storm. Im patiently waiting for some weather. Theres always birds that move south with migration moons, and this time of year they are dumb dumb, but if we dont get that blanket of snow to go across the country, theyre wised up and call shy by mid December. January can make for some tough hunting. Everything we killed this last weekend was at 20 feet or less. In our face and put the brakes on to get into decoys when you hit the call. My favorite kind of fowl hunting.

 

[William Reinicke]

I've seen rattlers around here a couple of times in October while deer hunting and chukar hunting. I figure by this time of year they are beginning to congregate around denning areas. Our temps right now are pretty average for this time of years, but here in South Central Idaho we need some ice up north to move birds. There are a few local mallards around, but all on private ground. Our green heads, (the ones with the white spot on their face) won't arrive till after thanksgiving, maybe the first of december, then it will be game on till the end of January. We drove quite a bit of river last weekend and didn't see more than 50 birds. The trout are in the stream we often hunt already, so the fly rods will be with us scouting this coming weekend. I don't think there was much of a local waterfowl hatch this year, with our tromping around all september we saw only a few teal and spoonies. I think William must be shortstopping their return in the spring and the birds don't go north anymore, lol.

They need to be denned up! I dont like a rattler and Duck hunters shouldnt have to deal with them. Go to bed and stay there until after season. Its unfortunate but it stays warmer longer and colder longer. Seasons are changing. Might be time to get the feds to change the fowl season from Nov 1 to end of February. I dont like fending off fangs for feathers.

Sounds like Canada needs to get some crazy snowfall for you guys to get covered up. I would think something is starting to drop up there soon. Surely birds will start moving soon for you guys. Post thanksgiving is when im hoping the madness really starts. The migration moon might be the next one in December.

Im a big moon guy. Birds migrate in the night off it, and bass transition from spawning to deep off it. Ive always kind of paid attention to moons.

 

[William Reinicke]

Funny you mention the rattler, I was helping my old man put up some deer stands yesterday and had a 5 foot black snake slither right between my legs. I was on the ground raising up the stand to him with a rope, so I was looking straight up. I heard the leaves rustle but didn't think anything about it. Looked down a couple seconds later and the snake had just passed between my feet.

It was 73 degrees yesterday afternoon and felt like a summer day. Big cold front moved through and it's 38 this morning. Supposed to be 26 tomorrow morning. Hopefully winter is finally here.

Its absurd! No snakes need to be out this time of year. Our first day out it was 78 degrees this last weekend. I was in shorts under my waders. Absolutely stupid! Kinda nice waking up to 27 outside this morning. Wont last too long, but finally cooling off.

 

[William Reinicke]

Sat down in front of these two. Never saw them too intent on releasing a trout. Didn't rattle until had been sitting for couple minutes. I don't think the female struck as it would have been over the male's (smaller black one) View attachment 70617head. My back was within 3 feet of them. I've had two more encounters (not that close) in same area so I have to believe there is a den nearby.

No thanks! Too close. Im good! Hope you killed both lol.

 

[William Reinicke]

Shit, that is a good sized rattler. I ran into one on Halloween day in an area I've hiked for nearly 50 years (SW Oregon) and had never encountered one before. Rattled and coiled and was able to keep the dog clear of it. Also saw a California King snake in the same area a week earlier (never seen one before in all my life.). They are renowned for occasionally growing 2 heads!
I used to look for snakes when I was a kid. Really was fascinated by them. Wanted to be a herpetologist.

Season transition. Taking longer to get colder and people are planting later and later every spring.

 

[William Reinicke]

Truck goes in next Monday to finally get fixed. It has to be fixed before December for the elk hunt. If the shop cant guarantee it, might push it off longer myself. I decided not to chase fowl yesterday, and instead, get the muzzleloader ready for that hunt. Shes sighted in and was able to hit inside a 5" circle with open sites from every kind of position. Standing, kneeling, shouldering etc. I was happy with that and hope to get a cow elk down relatively quickly. NM went to open sites only on muzzleloader, so I wasnt overly confident in myself, so had to make sure it was doable or if i needed to get some more practice in. I felt good with my results and feel I could make the shot needed to get one on the ground.

 

[RM Anderson]

Truck goes in next Monday to finally get fixed. It has to be fixed before December for the elk hunt. If the shop cant guarantee it, might push it off longer myself. I decided not to chase fowl yesterday, and instead, get the muzzleloader ready for that hunt. Shes sighted in and was able to hit inside a 5" circle with open sites from every kind of position. Standing, kneeling, shouldering etc. I was happy with that and hope to get a cow elk down relatively quickly. NM went to open sites only on muzzleloader, so I wasnt overly confident in myself, so had to make sure it was doable or if i needed to get some more practice in. I felt good with my results and feel I could make the shot needed to get one on the ground.

Will,
Muzzleloaders are cool! Minnesota used to have similar restrictions but with a doctors note you could use a 1X scope or red dot.
I am not saying, just saying...
RM

 

[William Reinicke]

Will,
Muzzleloaders are cool! Minnesota used to have similar restrictions but with a doctors note you could use a 1X scope or red dot.
I am not saying, just saying...
RM

Im borrowing my buddy's for this hunt. He will be out there with me this go around. After shooting it though, I really want to add one to the gun safe. They're more fun than I ever gave them credit for. I have all the equipment to process the meat myself and will be doing it on this elk. Depending on how everything goes, I may make this a once a year kind of deal and hope to just keep freezers packed with elk meat. Meat is just so expensive to buy anymore and since im not a horn chaser, getting a cow elk tag seems relatively easy as a resident here.

No chance I could get a docs note lol. No idea what he would give me a note for. I have 20/13 vision, very mobile still. The new williams peep site is pretty slick that my buddy has on his gun. It has a drop point and almost mimics the idea of looking through a scope. I bet I could make a shot out to 200 with those peep sites. Obviously, there just isnt any magnification, but luckily with my eye sight, i can see pretty darn good at distance.

I never really knew how good my eyes were until one day I had to have a small meeting for a paramedics class. We were standing at the doorway and the instructor asked where we wanted to sit. One young lady said, "in that corner table is fine I guess" and I just was like... nope there ants all over that damn table. Everyone just looked at me weird, then someone walked over there and was like "Holy hell theres ants literally crawling all over". That was when it became apparent to me how good my eyes were. Ive called multiple bands on birds when landing (Geese are easy with a black leg and aluminum band) but even on mallard ive called it. Ill never forget one hunt thanksgiving morning, I had to stretch my legs, stood up and walked away from my gun about 30 feet away. A lone hen snuck in and landed right in the decoys. I told an old timer we were with to shoot it as it was banded on the left leg. He tells me "im not shooting a hen". I said "Joel, you shoot that bird, otherwise you will regret not getting a leg band". She lifts, he shoots, my dog runs out gathers it up, and sure enough banded on the Left leg. He was in complete shock, and dumb me walking away from my gun. There wouldnt of even been words as i would of hammered her so fast.

I have terrible ears and my sense of smell sucks as well. Whats really weird is after I got covid, I can no longer smell skunk or the devils grass. You could light a joint right next to me and I cannot smell it. The oddest thing in the world.