Duck season

Al Hansen

Al Hansen

Well-known member
On Monday morning I received an email from Roger's Sporting Goods telling me all about their pallet sale on trap loads etc. I looked through it and was delighted when I saw that they were once again carrying the Federal Steel 7 shot Dove loads. With the price at $69.99 for a case plus $12.00 for UPS I ordered one.

This afternoon, Wednesday, when I got home from getting my bi-annual hair cut, I noticed that my case of ammo was here. I'm hoping that time will fly!

Al

Come on duck season! By the way I happen to think that this is the best shell a duck hunter can use. Good grief it is made in Minnesota for starters so that is a plus. Secondly as you can see on the case that "some" of the components are made here and some aren't, so half and half is not so bad.

For some of you who are laughing yourself silly just thinking about this almost low base shell for ducks and would never consider it, I thought the same way when I was younger. I can't begin to tell you what kind of a rush it is to wait for that shot and if it doesn't happen on the first swing, get on your duck call and sweet talk them back. Then as you are watching their body language and know this is it, you prepare yourself mentally for what you are going to do when you get up out of your folding chair and begin shooting. The first shot is normally some where between 15 and 20 yards. Then on the second shot it doesn't take long to find another customer because they are still well within range. I quit shooting at them at 35 yards. How many times last year did you wait until that flock of ducks was beginning to back pedal their way in with feet outstretched like they just had to commit right now? It is astounding how fast they can drop in if they want to. Hunting this way has a definite way of providing a natural high that lasts for a life time. Oh, by the way, one good ingredient to have would be patience.

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On this day two years ago I was very fortunate. I did have about 60 mallards come by for a look and called them back. When they came in I took these three greenheads. As for the spoonbills, 5 of them came in and these two stayed with us. I'm including Chip and Habi. Should I have taken my limit that day, maybe. There were three other flocks of ducks that came in but I did not like the shots that they provided so didn't shoot. Yes, they were all within the 25 to 30 yard range but I thought I could call them back in. They didn't come back however. I'm ok with that. It doesn't bother me to forego a shot because I know that I stand a good chance to see those ducks again if they weren't spooked. Their body language will tell you all you need to know about that.

My gun of choice is the 12 gauge Benelli Nova with a 28 inch barrel. The reason I happen to like it is because it can take a beating and still perform flawlessly. We have thousands of miles of sand beaches down here but very little water. If it is windy there is always sand flying in the air. Sand is a menace to most automatics and that is why I sold my 1956 3" Browning A5. It was a marvelous shotgun but not when it had to combat sand.

I can't tell you how much fun it is to hunt over a spread of decoys and wait until they seem to be on top of you. You actually have to experience it and once you do---

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Al, bought a few boxes #7 steel for duck hunting. Use them for shooting those low swimming cripples. Penetrates the head well and not the body. Good pattern coverage.
 
Rich, are divers that hard to put down? Over the years I have seen many videos or outfitters' films of hunts where it seems like there is a lot of swatting going on. Has to be a great feeling to be on a diver hunt when all ducks shot were DOA or DOSD (Dead On Splash Down).
Al
 
So Al, do you use mini decoys in your spread when you are using the mini shells? That may be the secret to your success. I like it.
 
You got me, Robin! I had this sent to me and it is always present right next to my computer. Mr. Baldpate is my favorite duck and has been every since I moved to New Mexico. As the years get stacked on my frame, I also don't mind the kick of those "mini" shells.
Al
 
You are a wise man. Maybe some day I will be fortunate to be as wise with your guidance. You've taught me a lot so far.
Thanks
 
are divers that hard to put down?
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Yep. If you don't kill them in the air, you better shoot them again as soon as they hit the water.
I've folded ringnecks, looked stone dead on the way down, only to have them hit the water and dive, all in one motion.
Chased buffies, ringnecks, redheads and bluebills with the boat for over a quarter mile before.
Even if they can't dive, they will get really low in the water, just the top of the head and bill above the water, and paddle like hell.
You shoot, they dive. Pop back up, you shoot, they dive, repeat, repeat.
#7s give you about 600 pellets and a better chance of hitting them in the head, which is about the only effective kill zone.
 
Divers can be a test of your ability... As said before, if not stoned, hit it again. Dam black duck can be a pain too. They swim like a sub. Steel trap cheaper than duck loads.
 
Rich, since I have never shot a black duck but have had the unique experience of seeing a drake black duck in western Minnesota back in the middle 50s on opening day. There were two older guys there and both of them saw him also and remarked about him "sure being lost" and the other guy saying something like "how did he get out here?">

What is it about a black duck that makes it so uniquely different than a mallard? What is happening to the black ducks in your area when they cross with mallards?

We have the Mexican duck that is indigenous to New Mexico. It, too, is slowly being hybridized by mallards and is now pretty difficult to find a good example of a true Mexican duck when you shoot one. Almost always you will see a hint of a mallard some place on it.
 
A true black is a Wily bird. They are very smart and massive. I have an image burned in my brain of a flock of blacks in the last light banking into the sun. It was just as I was about to pick up my dekes, and the last one in the 4 pack was 2x the size of the others.

The true king of the marsh.
you are lucky enough to see one let alone shoot one
 
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Al-I hunt in good black duck country along Delaware Bay and they are abundant. The biggest difference is that they are a little bit bigger than a mallard. A mature drake black is pretty husky and will have a thick neck. They are the toughest duck to decoy most days. Several times over the years I have seen a well hit black duck basically dive into the water from the fall. You rarely find them when that happens, or even see them again. Most of the black ducks that we get are black ducks. It seems that some years we get a couple of hybrids and then none for a few years. Their skin is a little different than a mallards also. They are pretty easy to tell usually, especially if you see the white in contrast to the dusky body. YOu would really like them.
 
Al
I lived most of my life hunting the salt marshes of the Delaware bay, Black ducks can drive a guy nuts at times, it is the only duck I have known that flares at the sight of live black ducks on the water.
 
Al, I did sure a bunch of 2 3/4" #5 shot this past year. Like Raid... it kills them dead. I love seeing birds with their feet down ready to land.
 
You are too kind, Robin. It is not so much being wise but having gone through the trial and error with hopefully keeping track of the positive things.

I forgot to tell you that I did find a great log that I will haul into the small pond this fall when it is nice and dry down there. Once the water begins to come in, I will bring my cordless drill and bits and fill it full of holes so that I have an inviting looking resting log for ducks. I like putting oversized full body decoys on logs because if there is any breeze at all they do bob around looking pretty good. I also use resters on it.
Al
 
Carl it sure sounds as if you must pound them good when you have the chance. So with all those divers that you shoot, I also know you get into the gaddies at the same time. Ever have problems with them? I find them to be dumb one day and then on the next day act like they are the wariest member of the waterfowl gang. They just are hard to figure out.
Al
 
Chris, thanks for taking the time to help me realize what this impressive duck must be like. By the way, I can still remember right where I was, sitting on a muskrat house when that flock of mallards with the one black duck came into the marsh. It had to be 1957 when I was a junior in high school.
Some day I hope you nail that last one that was twice as big.
Al
 
That has me going now, Greg. That means that if you had a small flock of them come in and on your first shot you just wounded the bird, you would definitely follow that bird all the way to the splash site and be hammering it with the 2nd round. No time to be looking to shoot another one. Oh, by the way, since I don't know---how many black ducks can you take on a daily basis?
Al
 
Doug, I found myself laughing then saying, "That bird must be born being wary with a double dose of how to also be elusive ." That was one very descriptive sentence.
Al
 
Paul, I love it when it "kills them dead!" Glad you had the chance to hunt in an area where the ducks were feeling pretty safe and came in with feet down. Just seeing that once is enough to make it want to happen again and again.
Al
 
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