Hank Yorke
Well-known member
I got out for a quick hunt this morning. I wasn't expecting much, as the hunting has been very slow. However the recent cold snap gave me hope. Lately I've been hunting solo, and I enjoy that; it gives my time to think, and hunt as I choose. Last night I was feeling nostalgic so I grabbed my '37 Sterlingworth, I also needed to test a forearm repair I did last month. My 4 year old helped to pick the decoys, as he always does, he chose 3 of "his" Bean/Sanford Gadwall, a pair of my Blacks and I tossed in a lone GE drake, just in case the divers showed up.
The actual temp was 9 when I put the boat in the water. It was cold enough that the water didn't soak into my sweater, it just froze.
I know you've all seen Steve's Gadwall tutorial. I now proudly/temporarily own those decoys, Henry my 4 year old has claimed them. He does however loan them to me on an as needed basis. I love everything about LL Bean decoys, from their history, to the black cork, to their silhouette. In my opinion, they are the best production decoy ever made. Steve's "gunning" paint makes them even better.
We had 6 different groups land before legal shooting time, mostly Mallards & Gadwall ranging from 6-10 birds in a group, we even had a pair of Blacks show up. All decoyed recklessly, as if it was opening day, a few groups sounded like jets as they set their wings and cruised in from way up high. Sadly, none chose to stay with their mute counterparts very long. 7:36 was LST, a group of 4 Mallards worked in at 7:37. The old Sterlingworth passed the "forearm test" with the two drakes staying. After that nothing... The dog was ready, but it was cold and I was out of coffee
Hopefully we'll find a few more before Sunday.
The actual temp was 9 when I put the boat in the water. It was cold enough that the water didn't soak into my sweater, it just froze.
I know you've all seen Steve's Gadwall tutorial. I now proudly/temporarily own those decoys, Henry my 4 year old has claimed them. He does however loan them to me on an as needed basis. I love everything about LL Bean decoys, from their history, to the black cork, to their silhouette. In my opinion, they are the best production decoy ever made. Steve's "gunning" paint makes them even better.
We had 6 different groups land before legal shooting time, mostly Mallards & Gadwall ranging from 6-10 birds in a group, we even had a pair of Blacks show up. All decoyed recklessly, as if it was opening day, a few groups sounded like jets as they set their wings and cruised in from way up high. Sadly, none chose to stay with their mute counterparts very long. 7:36 was LST, a group of 4 Mallards worked in at 7:37. The old Sterlingworth passed the "forearm test" with the two drakes staying. After that nothing... The dog was ready, but it was cold and I was out of coffee
Hopefully we'll find a few more before Sunday.
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