I dream of Sanford Boxes.

Bob B

Bob B

Well-known member
Someone asked me last week how the duck hunting had been. I told him it has been the best year I have ever had. The phone was silent. After a pregnant pause I let out that we hadn't seen squat for ducks due to the weather BUT the boys dont know that, so why tell them. If a few shots are fired after a flying target with feathers they are happy being the first year for them all.
Today we returned the favor for a special hunt last week.
It was Thomas's birthday and he made out. Scored his first duck and a full drake Red breasted at that! What a bird.
Will got his first a drake Buffle Head in full color.
To say they were having a blast would be an understatement.
They gave a few others the scare but did not connect.
Had a set of premium birds right up the pipe but I was out handling the dog in the decoys and all 3 made the safe call and held fire (Even though I was about to duck down and yell take UM!) Gotta love CT and VT hunter safety!

The dog got a heck of a work out and picked up a crippled goose from another party.
But the best part was seeing John handle him on his first retrieve. I had gone to get the boat and the boys knocked one down. John took the dog and sent him like a pro. I about fell out of the boat I was so proud watching.

This is a fav spot of mine and I have waited 12 years to get John out on it. To have two good hunting friends get their first birds with him was over the top. We hunted them in 2 sanford boxes and the Kara in the middle. All were warm and dry and the birds had no idea they were there.

What a way to start the new year. Cant imagine what it will be like if we get some duck weather.

Bob

I did notice that the dog was taking his life in his hands in the picture. We can all learn something on each hunt. Even ran the safety kill switch today.




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John,
I built the KARA and the box without the canvas. I bought the second one at Tuckerton because I liked the canvas so much.

The King of Black ducks was doing his thing in the mud of the tide this morning. Looked very good.


Bob
 
Bob,

Glad your boys had such a good time, isn't that why we all do it?

,,,,,,,,,,[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]BUT the boys dont know that, so why tell them.[/font]
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Good call, reminds me of one of the first times I took my granddaughter fishing.

We were floating downstream when she hooked some underwater brush, "Grandpa I got a bite and he is pulling line out. What do I do?" My reply was, "Just hang on and don't drop your pole." As I got the boat moving back upstream towards the snag, her line got slack and I told her to reel up the slack. She did this twice until the third time when her lure pulled free from the snag.

"OH,, (sigh) he got away." was her remark. "Yes, we'll have to see if we can get another one" was my reply.

I knew she had a snag,,,, she thought she had a fish,,,,, she was having fun,,,,,,, I didn't see any point in changing that.
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Great post Bob! I can't wait until I can take my boys out there!!! Only 5 more years for Mason, and 10 more for Braiden!

Speaking of those Sanford Boxes, I was just thinking about how cool it would be to have one on the river here and I was looking at the post of your build yesterday. I think I'm going to have to build one or two for next year! They drop the water here every late Dec/Jan and all the shallow sand/silt bars are either exposed or have just inches of water, and there's nowhere to hide. I was thinking I could just dig it down and bury it in the mud a little. Our water has dropped 4 or 5 feet already and is supposed to drop 13-14 ft. total!
 
What do those boxes weigh, and do they float with a hunter in them?

Got a spot where my sculling boat is just too exposed once the rice falls down, but the birds don't usually want to land near shore. Those would be just the thing for laying out in the shallow water/low rice.
 
Jeff,
John is about 110 pounds, and he can float in the rice and shoot.
I would say if you can get in in shallow water and move to the spot a short distance away and it is not deep. (+1.5 feet) then yes.

Mine are both narrow boxes. The builder from jersey makes a wide body about 6 inches wider than the original plan and that would be ideal for what you are thinking.

They are not light. Made out of wood and covered on the bottom with epoxy it adds up. But I can move mine by myself. Just a bit bulky. I carry it upright, head up, and bear hug it if john isn't around to help.

Bob
 
I think maybe a small layout boat would be more appropriate for my spot--something I could tow out there. Or maybe a real low-profile single sculler.

No way to access this spot from shore, so I need something I can transport by boat.
 
Yep, that looks about right. Not sure it's big enough for me to paddle.

I'm actually wondering if anyone makes a XXL jet sled that would let me layout in shallow water. It would be a lot cheaper. I'd want something +/- 12 inches deep and at least 6 feet long.
 
Congrats to Thomas, Will, and you!

Some of my most enjoyable hunts were in Steve's design boxes.

Tom
 
Are the plans for the Sanford boxes still on this site somewhere? I know they were 20+ years ago when I built mine. I'd like to save a set.

Frank
 
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