Mark W
Well-known member
11/22/11 - Warm day as has been the norm lately. No wind. Had to break a little ice but it wasn't bad as I had broken the majority of it the day before. Was all alone in the slouigh which was nice after hunting with others in my boat the past 4 days. I usually hunt the last day of the season by myself and reflect upon the season past and it was a treat to be alone in the boat and slough.
Put out a full spread of dekes as the past couple days had some new ducks arrive. Since there is a "duck hunter free" zone not even a couple of hundred yards from where I was hunting, I needed to show the newcomers that where I was was where they wanted to be. Put out some Canada floaters for good cause even though no geese had been taken from this place all season long.
Managed to scratch a couple of doubles from each of two flocks that came into the decoys. Tried to get some of the early diver migrants to come down but I wasn't really hunting in the spot where they would want to be. Had some geese fly near my but not close enough to shoot at and my goose calling pushed them farther from, rather than closer to, me.
Sat in the outdoors for awhile and watched the eagles that call this spot home soar. Man are they fun to watch. Had some turkeys fly across the stream and had some deer walk right on by as where I hunt ducks is a safe spot for them to be when deer huting season is going strong. It was a great day to be in the outdoors.
Got back to the landing and backed the new vehicle down the ramp. Got the boat on the trailer and moverd forward far enough to pull the plug and let the water drain. Got back in the truck and couldn't get up the ramp as the wheels were spinning. Since this was a new vehicle to me, I couldn't figure out how to get it into 4 wheel low and lock the diff and tranny. Put the Jeep in park and started to slip backwards down the ramp. In my panic, I purposely hit the catch on the trailer winch and watched the boat go back into the water. This immediately stopped the Jeep from going backwards. What to do now I wondered. I went back into the Jeep to see how to get it into 4 LOW. Oh yeah, the vehicle came with a DVD manual, I'll plop that into the CD/DVD player and see how to do what I need to do. I hear talking but see nothing. Since I can't see anything, all the figures and diagrams that are being referred to I can't see. Then naturally, I can't see how to fix this on the radio as I can't see how to do this either. Find out later that MN doesn't allow you to watch a DVD on the front display even if you are in park and the vehicle is not moving nor the motor on. Another one of those "the State where absolutely nothign is allowed" moments....
Remember the part about me pulling the plug earlier. It was about this time that I realized that I had done so. I rush back to the boat, which is now filled halfway with water. I already have my waders off and where the plug goes, the water is 8-10 feet deep. After getting the waders on, I get into the water and put the plug back in place. Ok, the water is not coming into the boat anymore. Now how the heck am I going to get the boat out of the water.
After an hour of bailing with the 32 ounce cup I had on hand, the boat is missing most of the water. I extend the winch strap as far as it will go and attach it to the boat. I am able to pull the boat up onto the landing but not on the trailer. As hard as I try, I can't both lift the boat and crank the winch. Back in the water the boat goes. My frustration level is now at an all time high. How the heck am I going to get out of this mess? I know, I'll call Jeep and ask them. Oh yeah, when the boat filed up with water, it went over the top of the small bag where I keep my phone. Phone doesn't work either. Great.
I pull the Jeep up to the parking area. I back down a different spot on the ramp thinking I may have more traction. To make a long story short, I finally got the boat on the trailer and the whole thing up the ramp. What a last day. Oh yeah, got printed manuals now as well that are in the glove box.
Got home and washed all the hunting gear and cleaned out the duckboat. I may go out and finish up some hunting in the Southern WI zone or maybe go out and get after some geese later on but right now, it just isn't in me. Man I'm getting old.......
All in all, the season was not as good as last year. I shot 13 different species of ducks in 2010 while in the field 20 days. This year, I shot 6 species of ducks hunting only 16 days. I could have hunted more days but the ducks just weren't around. The water up here is still soft and there is no snow on the ground. Temps are finally in the 20's and water should start to get hard soon. Should be out on the ice in 3-4 weeks hopefully. Have to start planning the Annual Travis Bruce Ice Fishing gala now. Maybe one of these days we'll get him up to be a part of his fishing event.....
The fateful day (notice snow on the ground - a first for this year)
View attachment photo1.jpg
Shot of the last hunt of the season. Thought I would try B&W. Don't think it worked very well.
View attachment bwphoto.jpg
Mark W
Put out a full spread of dekes as the past couple days had some new ducks arrive. Since there is a "duck hunter free" zone not even a couple of hundred yards from where I was hunting, I needed to show the newcomers that where I was was where they wanted to be. Put out some Canada floaters for good cause even though no geese had been taken from this place all season long.
Managed to scratch a couple of doubles from each of two flocks that came into the decoys. Tried to get some of the early diver migrants to come down but I wasn't really hunting in the spot where they would want to be. Had some geese fly near my but not close enough to shoot at and my goose calling pushed them farther from, rather than closer to, me.
Sat in the outdoors for awhile and watched the eagles that call this spot home soar. Man are they fun to watch. Had some turkeys fly across the stream and had some deer walk right on by as where I hunt ducks is a safe spot for them to be when deer huting season is going strong. It was a great day to be in the outdoors.
Got back to the landing and backed the new vehicle down the ramp. Got the boat on the trailer and moverd forward far enough to pull the plug and let the water drain. Got back in the truck and couldn't get up the ramp as the wheels were spinning. Since this was a new vehicle to me, I couldn't figure out how to get it into 4 wheel low and lock the diff and tranny. Put the Jeep in park and started to slip backwards down the ramp. In my panic, I purposely hit the catch on the trailer winch and watched the boat go back into the water. This immediately stopped the Jeep from going backwards. What to do now I wondered. I went back into the Jeep to see how to get it into 4 LOW. Oh yeah, the vehicle came with a DVD manual, I'll plop that into the CD/DVD player and see how to do what I need to do. I hear talking but see nothing. Since I can't see anything, all the figures and diagrams that are being referred to I can't see. Then naturally, I can't see how to fix this on the radio as I can't see how to do this either. Find out later that MN doesn't allow you to watch a DVD on the front display even if you are in park and the vehicle is not moving nor the motor on. Another one of those "the State where absolutely nothign is allowed" moments....
Remember the part about me pulling the plug earlier. It was about this time that I realized that I had done so. I rush back to the boat, which is now filled halfway with water. I already have my waders off and where the plug goes, the water is 8-10 feet deep. After getting the waders on, I get into the water and put the plug back in place. Ok, the water is not coming into the boat anymore. Now how the heck am I going to get the boat out of the water.
After an hour of bailing with the 32 ounce cup I had on hand, the boat is missing most of the water. I extend the winch strap as far as it will go and attach it to the boat. I am able to pull the boat up onto the landing but not on the trailer. As hard as I try, I can't both lift the boat and crank the winch. Back in the water the boat goes. My frustration level is now at an all time high. How the heck am I going to get out of this mess? I know, I'll call Jeep and ask them. Oh yeah, when the boat filed up with water, it went over the top of the small bag where I keep my phone. Phone doesn't work either. Great.
I pull the Jeep up to the parking area. I back down a different spot on the ramp thinking I may have more traction. To make a long story short, I finally got the boat on the trailer and the whole thing up the ramp. What a last day. Oh yeah, got printed manuals now as well that are in the glove box.
Got home and washed all the hunting gear and cleaned out the duckboat. I may go out and finish up some hunting in the Southern WI zone or maybe go out and get after some geese later on but right now, it just isn't in me. Man I'm getting old.......
All in all, the season was not as good as last year. I shot 13 different species of ducks in 2010 while in the field 20 days. This year, I shot 6 species of ducks hunting only 16 days. I could have hunted more days but the ducks just weren't around. The water up here is still soft and there is no snow on the ground. Temps are finally in the 20's and water should start to get hard soon. Should be out on the ice in 3-4 weeks hopefully. Have to start planning the Annual Travis Bruce Ice Fishing gala now. Maybe one of these days we'll get him up to be a part of his fishing event.....
The fateful day (notice snow on the ground - a first for this year)
View attachment photo1.jpg
Shot of the last hunt of the season. Thought I would try B&W. Don't think it worked very well.
View attachment bwphoto.jpg
Mark W