Charles H.
Active member
In typical fashion getting to bed early Friday night didn't go as planned. After finally getting to bed around 10:30, it seemed like a literal instant when my 1:15am alarm went off. 30 mins and I was on the road, to meet at my brothers house and at 2:45 am we were on our way South East to a salt marsh that will remain un-named.
Only one truck/boat there before us, a good start. The sky was clear and star filled, with the occasional bonus shooting star. The air was crisp but not so much as to make the boat ride uncomfortable. We motored on to our chosen spot, set out our decoys (6 blacks, 4 gadwalls, 4 mallards, and 3 Buffleheads) and settled in to watch the day break. Wind at our back was nice, but we'd have the sun in our eyes, oh well the view was worth it!
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We hunted not far from this location 2 weeks ago and there weren't anywhere near as many ducks flying today as there was then. Perhaps less boats/hunters to get them moving, perhaps they've been pressured so much they are hanging tight. None the less we hunker down and hope for the best. It will pay off!
We missed an early opportunity at a good sized group of teal that caught us off guard and were gone in a flash. A few Black ducks buzzed us from behind without offering a good shot and several small flocks work the decoys but never get within range. Eventually a lone hen bufflehead splashed down just out of our shooting range and made a bee line for my black cork buffleheads. These three little decoys, 2 drakes and a hen, were some of the first I made and have more then earned their keep. We have no desire to shoot her, but she hangs in the decoys so long, and the dog is trembling with excitement. We begin discussing the merits of flushing and shooting just for the retrieve value. I glance to the left just in time to catch a flash of movement coming left to right. I don't think, just click the safety off, Up-Bang-Splash. It happens so fast its always a blur. The Red legs of a Drake Blackduck are kicking at the sky..... the hen bufflehead continues to mill about in the decoys unconcerned. My brothers Drahthaar brings me my prize....
View attachment 78419979_10103523464386026_4305109070995521536_o.jpg
Energized, by this new development we intensify our skyward gaze hoping for a second opportunity. I never see them until its too late, up the creek from the right, a pair of Blacks, my brother sees them and connects this time, and another quick retrieve!
View attachment 78708815_10103523464460876_4547793298953076736_o.jpg
View attachment 79244446_10103523464500796_3684578483901562880_o.jpg
The tide is dropping out on us now and we're seeing less and less in the air. We pick up the decoys and head off to investigate a potential future hunting spot. It looks promising so we drop some decoys and sit for a while. Very few birds in the air, and very skinny water get us on our way back to the ramp, passing this guy on the way. He unfortunately would not let us get any closer for a better photo.
View attachment 78776655_10103523464560676_6805124424925184000_o.jpg
Arriving at the ramp we are greeted by a gentleman launching a sneakbox who asks us if we're the guys from PA. He introduces himself as Greg Setter. He recognized me from this forum. Great guy! Really glad I got to meet you in person.
All in all it turned out to be a wonderful day spent in the marsh!
Only one truck/boat there before us, a good start. The sky was clear and star filled, with the occasional bonus shooting star. The air was crisp but not so much as to make the boat ride uncomfortable. We motored on to our chosen spot, set out our decoys (6 blacks, 4 gadwalls, 4 mallards, and 3 Buffleheads) and settled in to watch the day break. Wind at our back was nice, but we'd have the sun in our eyes, oh well the view was worth it!
View attachment 78939581_10103523530328876_2093800130212790272_o.jpg
We hunted not far from this location 2 weeks ago and there weren't anywhere near as many ducks flying today as there was then. Perhaps less boats/hunters to get them moving, perhaps they've been pressured so much they are hanging tight. None the less we hunker down and hope for the best. It will pay off!
We missed an early opportunity at a good sized group of teal that caught us off guard and were gone in a flash. A few Black ducks buzzed us from behind without offering a good shot and several small flocks work the decoys but never get within range. Eventually a lone hen bufflehead splashed down just out of our shooting range and made a bee line for my black cork buffleheads. These three little decoys, 2 drakes and a hen, were some of the first I made and have more then earned their keep. We have no desire to shoot her, but she hangs in the decoys so long, and the dog is trembling with excitement. We begin discussing the merits of flushing and shooting just for the retrieve value. I glance to the left just in time to catch a flash of movement coming left to right. I don't think, just click the safety off, Up-Bang-Splash. It happens so fast its always a blur. The Red legs of a Drake Blackduck are kicking at the sky..... the hen bufflehead continues to mill about in the decoys unconcerned. My brothers Drahthaar brings me my prize....
View attachment 78419979_10103523464386026_4305109070995521536_o.jpg
Energized, by this new development we intensify our skyward gaze hoping for a second opportunity. I never see them until its too late, up the creek from the right, a pair of Blacks, my brother sees them and connects this time, and another quick retrieve!
View attachment 78708815_10103523464460876_4547793298953076736_o.jpg
View attachment 79244446_10103523464500796_3684578483901562880_o.jpg
The tide is dropping out on us now and we're seeing less and less in the air. We pick up the decoys and head off to investigate a potential future hunting spot. It looks promising so we drop some decoys and sit for a while. Very few birds in the air, and very skinny water get us on our way back to the ramp, passing this guy on the way. He unfortunately would not let us get any closer for a better photo.
View attachment 78776655_10103523464560676_6805124424925184000_o.jpg
Arriving at the ramp we are greeted by a gentleman launching a sneakbox who asks us if we're the guys from PA. He introduces himself as Greg Setter. He recognized me from this forum. Great guy! Really glad I got to meet you in person.
All in all it turned out to be a wonderful day spent in the marsh!