Half day hunts??

Huntindave McCann

Huntindave McCann

Well-known member
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Jeff Jacobs just left work early to go duck hunting and that just plain sucks. Sucks because he didn't tell me beforehand so I could join him. Whats up with that?

Any how here is a poll; (A) Hunt from sunrise till 10:30 am then go into work for 4hrs (12:30- 4:30)

OR

(B) work from 6:00am till 10:00am then go set up (about 12:00)and hunt till sunset.
 
Thats a tough one, just depends on the weather, tides & how the birds are acting.
But also, getting up at zero dark thirty, hunting & then going to work is tough. If you have to go to work, I'd have to vote for a PM hunt.
Ive had some great afternoon hunts when the tide was starting to flood areas the birds really wanted to be. I can remember a series of hunts under those conditions one year where I left work at noon 1 day for 3 weeks straight & hunted the same spot. The tide was just in enough to float my 4 Rivers boat and pole it in and kept rising. I was set up by 1:00 and had limits of gadwalls by 3:00 each time. I've also had a couple of great diver hunts in the afternoon especially when the mullet net boats were out & kept the birds stirred up.
 
I would hunt mid day to later in the later part of the season, lots of times the mallards return to our lake after the early morning hunters have picked up and left.
 
B. It depends on the tides and where I'm going, but I've had some pretty good afternoon hunts, and most of it is closer to home than the morning hunting.
 
I read a deer hunting article recently in which the author said when he preferred evening deer hunts. He said that during full moons deer feed at night and therefor are more likely to be bedded in the morning. The deer end up getting hungry before dark, because breakfast was so early, and then start feeding earlier in the evening. He recommended evening deer hunts during full moons. (I will look to see if I think this is true, here forward.)

I wonder if a similar feeding pattern might affect the time when ducks go for the evening feed during full moons?


Bob
 
Don't know if it's because of full moons, but back when I deer hunted quite a bit, I killed a lot more deer in the evening than in the morning.

As far as ducks, I've heard that they will feed on the full moon nights and not be as active in the mornings. In my opinion, weather conditions & tides have a lot more influence.
 
I experienced the late night early morning ducks feeding. We set up at dark thirty the last time we were going to hunt a roost. (the only time actually)The birds were there and the moon was full. It was the first time I heard a feed call. Our eyes couldn't believe the ducks were swimming and diving at almost 5 in the morning. Talk about the wait killing you. I know first hand they feed at night, so I hunt mid-day afternoon when the moon is full. Some of the most productive have been from 9-11.
 
a) My field hunts are always done in the morning and I don't have time to do these before work.
b) I hit rivers/creeks marshes after work. I'm in at 6:30. I able to get home and go out hunting for about 2.5 hours.
 
"With those hours it seems to me you only work half days anywhooo."
Lee, We normally put in a ten hour shift but if you take a half day of vacation, you only are required to work four hours for the working half of your day.

Carl and Dani, I hear ya about the tides and all affecting duck movement but I'm not sure the "tide" we experience here in Iowa has any affect!! hehe

Robert and Charlie, I worked second shift for many many years and did a LOT of bowhunting for deer during those years. I killed the majority of my animals closer to noon than any other time of day. I believe the reason for that was simply, that was the time I was hunting and I learned where to target the deer at that time of day.


PS. I'm just mostly pissed that I'm still here at work and Jeff is out hunting!


BTW. Hitch, Bird flu doesn't seem to work as often as I'd like it to work. I'd be expected to be dead, if I came down with it as many times as I experience the symptons.
 
yeah, you slack water guys get off easy! Tides sure do add a whole new twist to things. At least here on the Gulf coast we have small tides (3' is a BIG tide) and only 1 high/1 low per day. I cant imagine dealing with the 6-9' tides that guys on the east & west coasts have to work with. Plus we don't have rocks to mess our motors up, nothing harder than oyster shells (which are hell on an aluminum prop).

In any case, you just need to take off & go hunting. Work will wait.
 
I can't answer your Poll...............but the answer seems to me......retire and go hunting& fishing any damn time ya feel like it!

Hey, it's worked for me since I retired at the age of 43 so I could spend more quality time at what really counts in life........HUNTING & FISHING!!!!

Dave
 
I choose C, wake up at 4, hunt til 10:00, get lunch, screw work, go home and take a nap, maybe catch McGyver at 4pm
 
What's with all the "depends on the situation" answers?

I say, morning all the way. Doesn't matter whether the ducks are flying, it's great to be out in the marsh at sunrise.

Rick

On second thought, maybe I should try some afternoon hunts. I haven't been killin many ducks this year.
 
Nice try McCann,

Ya can't S%#* one that's S*^$ thousands!!! I know how us toolmakers work. We might BE there 10 hrs. ;^)

Hey Rick, When we gonna go out and "not get many" together. My partner is huntin deer this weekend and next week. Give me a call if ya get a chance 781-4210 7:00 to 3:30

Oh, yeah, Morning then off for the rest of the day to rest up ;^)

George
 
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Why George, I'm shocked you are not more precise in your reading.


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"With those hours it seems to me you only work half days anywhooo."
Lee, We normally put in a ten hour shift but if you take a half day of vacation, you only are required to work four hours for the working half of your day.


As you can plainly see I said we "put in a ten hour shift". The only time the word "work" was used, was in reference to a four hour period. Now I'll promise not to tell your boss if you promise not to tell mine.
 
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