DRN...but a great day in the islands...

Ed L.

Ed L.

Well-known member
Friday was opening day of Illinois deere gun season. I'm in my stand shortly before legal shooting time and the first thing I notice is the amount of feeder calls and quacks. Now I'm in an area with duck blinds but I know for a fact there is no one using these blinds because you can't motor to them due to the low water in the river. I listen as wing after wing swing the callers in the pothole that is just off to my left and continues up a cut that goes in front of me. The cut is 150 yards away and as the sun starts come up behind my right shoulder I start to make out the shapes of ducks making their final approach and sitting in to the cut which is roughly 200 yards long 50 yards across. I think to myself....3rd week of Nov and the ducks are finally starting to show and I'm in a tree wearing blaze orange. After what appears to be hours which is really only about 45 minutes it dawns on me I'm out here to shoot a deer. I had dropped my partner off on the island about a 1/4 mile down river from me and I hope he gets one. This year he turns 70 and you have to wonder how many more years will we do this? As I sit here this morning and type this with aching arms and tired back wondering how long I'm going to be able to to this.....;-)..I'm only 57 and have a lot of years to keep doing this. Anyway I would be out chasing ducks this weekend but I don't cherish the thoughts of slugs zinging though the timber so I'll wait and head for the ducks next week. Oh by the way my partner scored a great 10 pointer and for me, well mine was 14. I'd post a picture but photobucket is messed up and I can't seem to get one to post here.

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That is absolutely awesome. Ed, for a while I thought you were going to show a strap of mallards along with your monster of a white tail! Way to go. Guess if you are going to do something you might as will do it right, like you did.
Al
 
Thanks guys...it was a great day for both of us. I doubt there will ever be a repeat but it'll not be forgotten. Yesterday was a day of rest. I've never had to drag 400 lbs of deer before! But after sitting on the couch all day long I couldn't take it any more. Mark told me back to duck hunting so this morning I loaded up and back to the river.

Friday was the day to be there for ducks but today I still managed to not get skunked. 3 came through and 2 stayed for supper! Just wish I wouldn't have been looking the wrong way when the Mallards came through.

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Oh..another cool first. I've never shot a Ringneck before let alone getting a double.
 
Well.. thankfully no one died... and property damage was extremely minimal... it could have been devistating... May faith in humanity wqas also confirmed... glad I do not require others to get by.

The highlight was scratching out 1 bird that didn't want to die....Kodi confirmed my belief that he is a spectacular retriever, companion and friend... and I love him and being with him in the smelly backwaters , more than I like or tollerate most people.
 
Ed,
The deer are waaaay bigger on the Iowa side..........

LOL.


Seriously - those are beautiful trophies you and your friend have there. CONGRATS to you both!!

Best,
Brian F.
 
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