Hey, There is a reason why I like---

Al Hansen

Al Hansen

Well-known member
Stihl chainsaws and their equipment-----the color they use is the same color as a mallard's foot. Very cool.

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Why is it that one can hunt for 3 days and get skunked on all 3 of them and then all of a sudden a few ducks begin to show up? I thought the duck gods were being good to me.
Had a flock of 30+ gadwalls come into my blocks very early in the morning. That started my day off with two drakes.
I didn't have long to wait until a small group of five mallards came in all excited about a new area to feed in. As they began to back pedal I took out the two drakes in the bunch. Chili was once again busy.
I think that I was only into the season for maybe 50 minutes when a decent sized flock of mallards took a look at my spread and with a few lonesome hen calls from my new acrylic call, (thanks Bob) they came in like gang busters. There was not one second of hesitation. Well, I goofed up when I took out a hen on the first shot, then concentrated on a good looking drake and pulled him down with the next shot. Just like that my hunt was over-----well not quite. I still had my camera. What a fantastic morning. I always enjoy it when I tell Bev that I have to go cut more firewood.

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Tail gate shot.

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The sun tried to break through the heavy cloud cover that we had yesterday. What a beautiful environment to hunt ducks in.

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Had a pair of greenheads land in the decoys. That was fun to try and capture.

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I kept on checking the time because I knew that I needed to get going so that I could cut a cord of firewood. I gave myself another 20 minutes.
Al

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I thought these were three hens until they got closer. The middle duck is a drake Mexican.

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After this group came in I just had to get out of there. I can hardly wait until Wednesday when I can go back to cut more wood.

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Al,
neat shots of your day "cutting wood"

I borrowed my old buddy's Stihl farmboss once. It was damned nice of him to let me use it when my crappy homelite saw gave up the ghost. the stihl was brand spanking new, not a scratch on it nor mar upon the bar.

Well, I liked it so much that i used it and used it some more.
I used that saw like a rented mule.

I ended up keeping the thing and I got my buddy a brand new one.

It has been a good investment but oh my aching back!


That yellow dog looks happy.
Keep cutting.
 
Boy Al. With my golden (and Todd's above), those cockleburs in that first shot would have me all tied up for days trying to remove them. Trip.
 
After the hurricane came thru this year I got very acquainted (again) with my chain saw. We hadn't talked much after the back to back ice storms in Missouri in 2008 and 2009. After the hurricane clean up, I stopped talking to my chainsaw until the next disaster comes along. I do not recall any of the mentioned disasters yielding a limit on ducks. Am I using my chainsaw incorrectly? I don't have the blaze orange safety helmet, is that the problem? How many dekes should I put out while cutting trees? Should I rev the chainsaw only when seeing "tips and tails" or try not to call at all? Great story, great pics. I heard a report that said you are supposed to have record numbers of birds in your area this year because of the drought in Texas. Does that sound about right? Thats quite a spot you got there.


dc
 
Al, Great story and pics as always. Seems kinda strange and good at the same time that our season is in the final days and you are just geting started. 50 degrees thanksgiving????????? Now go cut some more wood with that good saw.
 
Very nice as always Al, I always look forward to seeing your posts. That drake mallard in your dog's mouth looks HUGE, was it bigger than normal or just perspective? I think you're getting some of our birds as the big storm we had last weekend blew quite a few out.
 
Al,
neat shots of your day "cutting wood"

I borrowed my old buddy's Stihl farmboss once. It was damned nice of him to let me use it when my crappy homelite saw gave up the ghost. the stihl was brand spanking new, not a scratch on it nor mar upon the bar.

Well, I liked it so much that i used it and used it some more.
I used that saw like a rented mule.

I ended up keeping the thing and I got my buddy a brand new one.

It has been a good investment but oh my aching back!


That yellow dog looks happy.
Keep cutting.

Todd, that yellow dog is happy. She doesn't miss a beat for being almost 9 years old now. That white around her nose does give her away, however.
Al
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Boy Al. With my golden (and Todd's above), those cockleburs in that first shot would have me all tied up for days trying to remove them. Trip.

Hi Trip,
When I started to investigate this area for hunting I knew right away what kind of retriever I would have to have. These cockleburs are all over the place. When not much is going on I spend my time extracting them from Chili's coat while she sits next to me in the blind.
Al
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After the hurricane came thru this year I got very acquainted (again) with my chain saw. We hadn't talked much after the back to back ice storms in Missouri in 2008 and 2009. After the hurricane clean up, I stopped talking to my chainsaw until the next disaster comes along. I do not recall any of the mentioned disasters yielding a limit on ducks. Am I using my chainsaw incorrectly? I don't have the blaze orange safety helmet, is that the problem? How many dekes should I put out while cutting trees? Should I rev the chainsaw only when seeing "tips and tails" or try not to call at all? Great story, great pics. I heard a report that said you are supposed to have record numbers of birds in your area this year because of the drought in Texas. Does that sound about right? Thats quite a spot you got there.


dc

Dave, with all those questions I might have to cut wood for a month just to answer them. I would say 19 decoys for the first time you try it. That is what I had used on that day. Every day that I go duck hunting, I also cut firewood----or is it the other way around?
We are having some great numbers for ducks down here and that is very possible when talking about the drought. However, we, too, are in the middle of that same thing here. I don't think we have received 4 inches of precip this year when we normally get around 7.5 to 8".
I am very fortunate to have a key to a locked gate.
Al
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Al, Great story and pics as always. Seems kinda strange and good at the same time that our season is in the final days and you are just geting started. 50 degrees thanksgiving????????? Now go cut some more wood with that good saw.

Hey Tom,
I sure hope you'll be able to get a few of those big mallards that hang around in Big Stone county. Good luck right to the end. Just so you know it will be around 67F on Thanksgiving with a low of 42F. My body can handle those "cold" temps just right!
Al
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Why is it that one can hunt for 3 days and get skunked on all 3 of them ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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Al,

Maybe that is your penitance (sp?) for having such a long season. :>)

Hi Dave,
I never looked at it that way, but that is a possibility. I'd be happy to do another 3 days of skunks by the way. We are fortunate down here to have such a good season.
Al
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Very nice as always Al, I always look forward to seeing your posts. That drake mallard in your dog's mouth looks HUGE, was it bigger than normal or just perspective? I think you're getting some of our birds as the big storm we had last weekend blew quite a few out.

Hey Cody, I'll bet you are right. That bird was extremely large when I compared it to the other two drakes as I cleaned them. However, I did notice that it was an adult and the other two were juveniles. Thanks for sending those birds down here. You must have had one huge storm up there.
Al
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Al, how do you get them out? I have found this little comb that the teeth are like little knives called a dematting rake. You put it under the burr, pull and out it comes even on lotsa hair dogs like mine. I keep one in my blind bag. Here is a link to one similar for you and those in burr country. Trip.

http://www.lcsupply.com/Dematting-Rake-9-Blade/productinfo/DR9/
 
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