Duck Band Info and weekend hunt

Dani

Dani

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Well I still haven't gotten my certificate for the banded drake woodrow I got in Nov, but I found out that he was banded in FL on 8/16/2006.

Yesterday I shot a banded drake mottled duck while down hunting with Hitch and I found out that the duck was banded in FL on 8/20/2005. More info to come on the bands I'm sure, when I get the certificates for them. These were my first two bands ever! The mottled was a gorgeous drake too. Sorry Christian couldn't send him to you for the skins.....ended up wringing his neck to kill him and destroyed the neck. Sorry :-] There are two weekends left still...we'll see if I can get another.

Hitch has pictures I'm sure that he'll post of the hunt with me, Todd and James down with him. I got my first limit though!!! Ever!! A great day...banded mottled, first limit. The mottled came in as a pair, but some guys were set up about 350 yds from us...set up AFTER we got there in broad daylight. Not a big deal though b/c they weren't shooting our direction. However, they weren't getting many birds (and we were) so they started skybusting at birds that were coming in our direction. They ended up clipping a teal that went sailing/flying down and they made no attempt at getting the teal and then did the same thing on the mottled, hit him enough to hurt but not enough to bring him down. These birds were easily in the 100-125 yd range from them! grrrrrrrrr He came flying into me and I finished him off. That day I got mottled, teal and ringers. A nice mixed bag :)

Today we went bluebill hunting (Hitch and I) and we each got our limit. (Don't know if he'll post pics b/c they are all hens hah...hens are ducks too...they deserve the chance to be shown off too) :p :-] It took me MUCH longer to reach my limit than for him to :) We ended up with an all hen day, with me losing one of my birds to diving and swimming away. It was wild! I crushed her wing and then I watched her fold her wings as tight as she could to her body and she went down head first and then came up about 65 yards away from our decoys. Never seen that before. By the time we could untie the boat, I had lost her as she was swimming and diving away from us as fast as she could. :( Fun times this weekend though!!! Much Thanks!
 
Nice to finally share a day out with you James and good shooting by all. I'de have more and better photos if not for the clouds and rain. Saturday was a day where we made our hunt what it was. We moved 2 times from our original spot. The whistlers didn't cooperate, and we sure burned up some gas.

Dani's Bag

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Ron... I'm still workin on that photo you want.

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And today we had a crapload of Bills flying. I think I have the spot figured out. Oh and they were all drakes when they hit the water... I have no idea where Shah got these birds from :)

Diver Duck Diva Dani

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The mutts

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The boat is well stained now. I think Dani put every pellet in her 1 ounce shell in one of the ducks.

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Dani,

First let me say congrats on your limit and the band. Too bad you lost the one duck, but that will happen from time to time. I had to chuckle to myself when you mentioned the guys setting up just 350 yards from Hitch's boat. If you had been hunting most marshes in Iowa, there would have been three other boats in that 350 yard space, even if the rest of the area was untouched.

So, did you put those paddles back where they belong when you got home? tsk tsk dang kids now days grumble grumble
 
Dani,

just 350 yards from Hitch's boat.
Click to expand...


It was more like 150 yards which still isn't too bad, and in our flyway. But it was the Skybustin that was truly amazing. They swagged at everything that came through. I'm sure they heard me proclaim at the top of my lungs "BAND".

Hitch
 
Dani, I think that band is well worth the trouble of the paddle incident...not to mention Hitch buzzing around chasin' coots and gators!

As far as the sky blasters go...I've seen the worst examples of that this year. I can't believe it only gets worse. With the all the yelling, complaining....public commentary you'd think they'd learn. But they don't and every year there is a new batch out there blasting away. Unreal!
 
Hitch that was a grand time!

Sorry but I may have put the jinx on the blackbellies, for I have greatly coveted one and, well, seeing the parade of 'em right over the blocks before shooting time (naturally) might have caused some hubris - and subsequent punishment from the duck gods.

The flights of fulvus were awesome. I thought they were a solitary bird..small groups... boy, was I surprised to see those groups flying.

Teal and Ringers... two of my favorite birds. Even managed a few in spite of my fine shooting skills -- burned up a box...

That is some beautiful country. And one mean machine!
 
The sire is from Bruce Mountain in New Virginia Iowa. GMHR Mountain's Top Beggar MH w/ Gusto's last control (Sire), Westwinds Bold Tiger (Dam) and of course Super Chief.

http://www.topchocolatelabs.com/index.htm

Momma is my buddy Tim's dog Nellie from Marion Iowa. She has some Mueller’s Stormy Canada and Pachanga Magnum Force.
 
Well James, with your jinx and my juju I guess we kept the birds away. lol every time I go to hunt with Hitch, the birds disappear :)
 
I think it is the Heavy Shot that makes the nimrods think they can shoot 100 yard ducks. At least I HOPE it is Heavy Shot..at least I can chuckle at the dollars they are blowing holes in the air with.
 
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