Paul Strombeck
Active member
You know your day is off to a bad start when one of your decoys going flying off the back deck at 4:00 AM same time as the motor bogs out. Worked through that and got into the marsh.
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Morning Woes
- Thread starter Paul Strombeck
- Start date
Jeffrey Nelson
Active member
Some people think we're crazy...... The life of a duck hunter. Jeff
Better than staying at home!
Funny you say that because I have had a few days when I can honestly say otherwise. One such day happened on big water. I arrived for an afternoon bluebill hunt to find someone set up in my favorite spot and that never happened. Forced us out into bay with a steady 20-25 knot wind and white caps. Decoys set out ok but the boat wouldnt hold anchor. We fought and created all sorts of anchors to stay put. After an hour we finally tied bow and stern together with some of the sash weights from the decoys and created a massive anchor. By this time legal was approaching and birds wouldnt look at us.
You got home safe, saw some country, made the effort, probably learned something. Still better than sitting in bed.
Sorry to be cranky. I'm just trying to psych myself up for tomorrow am. Hunting a bad wind and not quite right tide, don't think the birds are really here yet, my buddy is bringing his pup who probably won't be quite ready for the wind and tide--and then he wants to chase woodcock, the dog's first time.
Oh, and somehow my trailer light hook up came disconnected last time I had the boat out--it might have been when I near jack-knifed the trailer trying to get around someone's dumb ass parking job--and I ground off all the contact points on one end of the connector, so I get to do the drive tomorrow with no tail lights.
Probably won't be a great day for birds in hand . . . but definitely better than staying in bed or getting to work early.
Sorry to be cranky. I'm just trying to psych myself up for tomorrow am. Hunting a bad wind and not quite right tide, don't think the birds are really here yet, my buddy is bringing his pup who probably won't be quite ready for the wind and tide--and then he wants to chase woodcock, the dog's first time.
Oh, and somehow my trailer light hook up came disconnected last time I had the boat out--it might have been when I near jack-knifed the trailer trying to get around someone's dumb ass parking job--and I ground off all the contact points on one end of the connector, so I get to do the drive tomorrow with no tail lights.
Probably won't be a great day for birds in hand . . . but definitely better than staying in bed or getting to work early.
Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Paul et al~
There are certainly days when all does not go as planned, BUT....
About 25 years ago I can remember lying in bed, early in the morning, listening to a wet gale howling outside. I pondered whether or not to go forth as planned and spend the morning in pursuit of waterfowl. Whilst weighing the pros and cons, it occurred to me - epiphany-like - that, having hunted for about 25 years at that point, I had NEVER regretted going duck shooting. Not once in all those years. The duckless days, broken gear, tangled lines, wet clothing and the rest of the "imperfections" never outweighed all the pleasures of being on the water with shotgun at the ready.
So, it made up my mind for that morning - and for every gunning morning since.
All the best,
SJS
There are certainly days when all does not go as planned, BUT....
About 25 years ago I can remember lying in bed, early in the morning, listening to a wet gale howling outside. I pondered whether or not to go forth as planned and spend the morning in pursuit of waterfowl. Whilst weighing the pros and cons, it occurred to me - epiphany-like - that, having hunted for about 25 years at that point, I had NEVER regretted going duck shooting. Not once in all those years. The duckless days, broken gear, tangled lines, wet clothing and the rest of the "imperfections" never outweighed all the pleasures of being on the water with shotgun at the ready.
So, it made up my mind for that morning - and for every gunning morning since.
All the best,
SJS
Try this day on for bad karma.
Following my friend in his truck to the lake at 4am. Very careful as we crossed icy bridge. Maybe doing 10mph, when a funny feeling came over me and I realized my boat and trailer were perpendicular to my SUV. Coasted until realized was going to hit a telephone pole. Hit brakes and slid past it to roll over twice down a 15' embankment into corn field landing right side up. Boat was a fiberglassed Duckboat Too I built which survived without a scratch. Car ended up totaled but started up, put in four wheel drive and up the hill off to the boat ramp. After a heated argument with someone trying to take our blind, and a quiet hunt, I took off in boat back to boat ramp. My cousin and friend had driven his truck since the boat was loaded. Half way in the motor ran out of gas. My motor had flown out the back window and broke the arm. My friend had brought his back up but hadn't put much gas in. So I resigned myself to rowing the "tank" 1/2 mi back to ramp.
We had a two hours drive home. Was snowing and 20 degrees with not a window intact. Car was covered with mud, grass and corn stocks, and us wearing full hunting camo and ski masks. Needless to say cars did not linger in passing us on the freeway.
The only thing that kept my wife from shooting me was that her dad owned the Isuzu dealership and he sold quit a few Troopers when people saw mine and how we did not suffer any injuries.
Following my friend in his truck to the lake at 4am. Very careful as we crossed icy bridge. Maybe doing 10mph, when a funny feeling came over me and I realized my boat and trailer were perpendicular to my SUV. Coasted until realized was going to hit a telephone pole. Hit brakes and slid past it to roll over twice down a 15' embankment into corn field landing right side up. Boat was a fiberglassed Duckboat Too I built which survived without a scratch. Car ended up totaled but started up, put in four wheel drive and up the hill off to the boat ramp. After a heated argument with someone trying to take our blind, and a quiet hunt, I took off in boat back to boat ramp. My cousin and friend had driven his truck since the boat was loaded. Half way in the motor ran out of gas. My motor had flown out the back window and broke the arm. My friend had brought his back up but hadn't put much gas in. So I resigned myself to rowing the "tank" 1/2 mi back to ramp.
We had a two hours drive home. Was snowing and 20 degrees with not a window intact. Car was covered with mud, grass and corn stocks, and us wearing full hunting camo and ski masks. Needless to say cars did not linger in passing us on the freeway.
The only thing that kept my wife from shooting me was that her dad owned the Isuzu dealership and he sold quit a few Troopers when people saw mine and how we did not suffer any injuries.
RF--You win. YOU should have stayed in bed that day. LOL.