Last day of season and sad pictures

Mark W

Mark W

Well-known member
Had this duck hit the ice on the 2nd to last day of the season. It posed quite the dilemma on how to retrieve as it was on about 3/4" ice and under the ice was about 3' of muck. Took some time but it the end it ended up in the boat. Sorry for the poor resolution, zoom on a phone camera just doesn't cut it.





Last two photos are the saddest to take and I'm reminded of the end of duck season every time I open the garage door. Two kayak type boats are hanging on garage wall and the bigger boat is on its way back into storage freeing up garage space for my vehicle. Very sad day for sure. And the ice shack cant be used due to weather.
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[URL=http://s1308.photobucket.com/user/MarkWo/media/lastday4_zpsdvalwubt.jpg.html]


Last few days of hunting were the best all season. I had to laugh at my situation the very last day. I had a couple of ducks down within the first few minutes of legal and then watched ducks fly over me from behind for the next hour or more. I couldn't believe all the ducks coming from behind me (I was up against an island with tall trees and could see them until they were flying by) as it was so unusual to fly towards the river in the morning. After watching it unfold I finally figured out that if I would only get out of my boat, and walk to the other side of the island, I could watch the birds taking off and flying over my head. After doing so, it was in short order that I had filled the bag.


Sleeted like mad that morning and I ws semi worried about getting up the ramp back at the landing. No worries. Easy easy. Got home and started putting everything away. Sda day......


Mark W
 
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Glad you ended your season on a high note. It's been dismal to say the least in my area. Back before the season started the weather gurus started talking El Nino so I knew the season would be a tough one but I have not shot a duck or goose this year. With the less than stellar duck season I have been in the deer stand most of the hunting season. Started with high water for this time of year like many. Deer hunting the islands lends itself to watching for the fall fowl flights. They just haven't happened. Its been a great year since i retired as far as getting to go hunting and have hit seveal marshes hard the past few weeks after dispatching a nice doe with my bow. Had a few shots that didnt connect. Tonight I'm in Minneapolis. I traveled interstate 80 to Iowa City where I went north on 380 and took 35 to Minnesota. I pasted many lakes, ponds and marsh areas with no ducks to be seen. A few local geese around Waterloo, Iowa. Then about 40 miles from Minneapolis I started to see large numbers of ducks and geese in the marsh areas. Our season closes Dec 13th. Hope is still alive that some of these make their way down before the season closes.
 
What a great way to end your season in Minnesota. I really enjoyed your posts this season. Your pictures and stories I looked forward to.
Al
 
Always sad to see the season guy, my buddy makes a photo journal of each season, all the hunts and all the people he hunts with. pretty cool little idea to keep the season alive to the next one. I like the looks of the lower kayak, which type is it?
 
Upper Kayak is a Kevlar Poke boat that I redid this past summer. Lower kayak is a Hoefgen Duck Boat that I have had for at least 15 years I would think. Trailered boat is a Lund SSV14 with an Evinrude 15hp hanging on the back (wish it were a 25). Hunted out of the Poke a couple times this year, the Hoefgen not once and the Lund many times. All certainly have their place.


No freezing weather in sight which keeps pushing back ice fishing. These between season ruts really get me down.


Mark W
 
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Mark, it is sad to see a season end. Especially when it hasn't really even frozen up up there. I'm not too hopeful about my duck season if y'all up north don't start getting some COLD weather. But, we're finding some ducks. Season is closed right now until the 10th so maybe that will be enough to push more down
 
Enjoyed your posts this season. Yes, I recall those sad days at the end of the season when I lived in eastern SD. Rarely was the season over because of the calendar, it was usually due to the big freeze up. We are just getting some birds over here in south central MT. Should get a big push this weekend with colder temps.
 
Nice write up ! Thanks for sharing....

I didn't realize that the Hoefgen Duck Boat was still a production boat until I Googled it after seeing yours. I've been thinking about adding a kayak of some sort to the fleet, mostly for fishing; however, I really like that Hoefgen Duck Boat.....
 
Nice write up ! Thanks for sharing....

I didn't realize that the Hoefgen Duck Boat was still a production boat until I Googled it after seeing yours. I've been thinking about adding a kayak of some sort to the fleet, mostly for fishing; however, I really like that Hoefgen Duck Boat.....
Click to expand...

I don't think it is "in production" anymore. You can call Hoefgen and speak with Paul. I believe you can still get him to build one once in awhile but I don't think they build them "in production" so to speak. I could be wrong but think this is fairly accurate.

Mark W
 
Nice write up ! Thanks for sharing....

I didn't realize that the Hoefgen Duck Boat was still a production boat until I Googled it after seeing yours. I've been thinking about adding a kayak of some sort to the fleet, mostly for fishing; however, I really like that Hoefgen Duck Boat.....
Click to expand...

I don't think it is "in production" anymore. You can call Hoefgen and speak with Paul. I believe you can still get him to build one once in awhile but I don't think they build them "in production" so to speak. I could be wrong but think this is fairly accurate.

Mark W
Click to expand...

Thanks ! Will do.
 
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