Another One In The Books

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

Moderator
Staff member
I must admit, this was a really good season. From the early bird numbers we had, through the big freeze, right up to the end we were able to balance our time on public in Alabama and Arkansas and on private close to home. Yesterday we hunted from the starting minute until the final second of the 2022-2023 season. I am truly thankful for the time I got to spend with my son, our crew, and a college buddy I'd not seen in over 30 years. My only regret is there were some folks I wanted to hunt with but never got to. It just comes and goes too fast when you throw in all the holiday/family obligations. Below are some pictures from the closer and the finest gadwall I've ever seen and a link to a video on IG. I'm already pumped for next year.

@duckboatsdotnet - Season closer

Eric


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The seasons do come and go just too dang fast.

I too didn't get to hunt with a few people that I had wanted to. This year is seems like the holiday plans took up a lot more time than "normal" so I definitely didn't get out hunting as much in that time frame as I would have.

Nice to see you had a great season....
 
Dani

I can remember back to a time when the season opener took FOREVER to come and I had everything prepared. Now it's here before you know it and I'm always running like a mad man trying to get my boats and decoys in order. Probably has something to do with the amount of time we spend working at the hunting property.

Todd

The gadwall is safe in the freezer. The USF&WS won't be getting a wing.

Eric
 
Glad to hear you had a great season, I like the insta updates. I have a couple weeks of late goose yet and some deer crop damage tags. I had an awesome big game season, but that was over back in October, and my waterfowl season was all broken up and pretty meager. I shouldn't complain, but I will. :). It does go fast.
 
Eric,
Outstanding!!
Only thing I'll add, looking at that last photo,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, isn't it about time you updated your avatar? [whistle]
 
Glad you, Thomas and the crew had a great season. That is one fantastic drake gadwall.
Any big divers on the lake this year?
 
Carl

Yes, Thomas had a great year for Cans. I didn't make any of those outings but there were definitely huntable numbers.

Eric
 
Eric,
Maybe I missed it somewhere but I remember Thomas shot a pintail mallard hybrid I believe last year. Has he got the mount back yet? Would love to see a picture of it.
 
Good to hear you had a good season. I read that you talked about the big freeze. Water doesn't freeze down in Alabama does it? Are you talking about a big freeze push of birds?

Mark
 
Mark

When the lows are teens or lower and the highs in the 20's for three days in a row all but the large lakes and rivers freeze. Doesn't happen very often but when it does the hunting gets good. I have seen pictures from the 1940s(?) where Lake Guntersville froze over and people drove cars on it. Common for you Notherners but rare for us.

Eric
 
I hunted multiple times in the late 90s and early 2000s when parts of Mobile Bay froze over. Some of the best hunts I've ever been on.
 
Great stuff Eric, it's good to see some good duck gunning happen. And you got all nice table ducks. I like your box with the mounted birds also. I've come to like this style, it's almost like an Audubon style diorama, it shows off the birds and their plumage.
 
Eric,
Those are nice looking calls. Who made those?
And how do you like those Sitka waders?

I want a new pair and trying to decide between those and chene
 
The morning I remember most vividly was one December right around Christmas. We were in lower Justin's Bay right north of the causeway the morning after a strong cold front. Low around 20. Gadwalls were pouring in. Right at sunrise the wind died, went completely calm and the bay froze over in an instant. Ducks kept coming. A pair landed outside the decoys and broke through the ice as they landed. Then the drake got up on the ice and started walking around. We were limited out on gaddies by 7:15. Had to break ice to pick up decoys. Only time I've ever had to do that.
 
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