New Mexico season opened with a "Bang"!

Al Hansen

Al Hansen

Well-known member
To clarify, that bang is singular. I happened to see 3 wood ducks yesterday morning and was lucky enough to drop a drake that Habi went out and got for me. So, all in all, it was a most successful opener.

I will never forget last year when there was no water in the Rio Grande at this time and the private ranch I hunt didn't have water until January 4th. So now I am being faced with a whole new set of logistical problems to solve. The Rio Grande is running at over 1,500 cfs but I still can't get to the rio because of all the mud from the torrential rains that we received 7 weeks ago. The areas that I hunt, normally, were washed away by the rio and once I can get to it I'll just have to revise a few things.

The good news is that I got to the ranch channel. (it is a 3 mile ditch that was dug by the Army Corp of Engineers back in 1955} I found a small corridor of dry land that allowed me to drive that one mile with my Mule.

Now to wait for the land to dry out and for the ducks to begin to arrive down here in good numbers. Our temps are still up in the high 70sF so I guess patience is very necessary. As for the good news, there are still over 90 days left in the season.
Al

To think that during last year's season there was no water here until Jan. 4th makes me a pretty lucky duck hunter. That means I'm over 60 days ahead of schedule.

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Every time I see a drake or hen wood duck I am amazed by it sheer beauty. When I was a kid back in the early 1950s exploring the Minnesota River bottoms, on rare occasions I would spot a pair or two of them in the springtime. There weren't many of them at all and to see them was special. I find myself looking at them with that same amount of enthusiasm and wonderment whenever I see them.

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A beautiful morning, one shot, one bird, and as far as I'm concerned the Best duck to start the season with. Congratulations. Our season opens Sat. hope some Wood ducks are still around........
 
I'm with you on the amazing beauty of a drake Woodie! The first duck my son shot was a drake Woodie. He was about 10 yrs old and armed with a .410. We found a little hole of water made by beavers and built a simple brush blind. We didn't have any duck hunting equipment what so ever....just shotguns. When we would knock down a woodie, I would take my shoes and socks off and wade in after them. BBBRRR! But it was worth it and made memories that will last a lifetime. Probably that early initial success is what hooked my son on duck hunting. You can only imagine what goes through a kid's mind when holding his first duck and it's a drake woodie!
 
Al~

Spectacular setting with gorgeous light - sounds like a fine morning.

I get a kick out of your 3rd photo. I always advise new gunners to "hold for the bill" - looks like you got that habit down pat!

All the best,

SJS
 
If you are only going to get one shot make the most of it. Looks like you did that. Great job catching some beautiful images.

Tim
 
Al,

Good for you. Glad you have some water this year. I love Woodies and Widgeon. They're my favorite. The woody I got Sunday was a juvie. Just getting his colors with a little patch of green on the head. I've always wanted to get a nice full color to mount. Had one in the freezer years ago to have mounted and the power went out when we were on spring vacation. Lost the woody, two nice bass and a northern I was wanting to have mounted. After that I just eat them.
 
The thing about good feather pictures is that they help you feel the experience with all of it's subtleties. Nice outing Al, and here's hoping that you have just the right amount of water to make your season full of opportunity. Woodies are great, I used to get them back when I hunted a Delaware River tidal creek that had a patch that butted up against the woods. Now where I hunt there is good woodie habitat about a 1/2 mile away, but on the salt marsh, I have only seen one in the last 9 years. I'm curious how the woodie hunters in South Jersey will make out this year, as our season dates have changed and what used to be two weeks this time of year is now one, and most of the woodies are taken in the earlier part of the season. The other great thing about wood ducks, besides the feathers, are the taste. I believe wood ducks to be on the top of the list with pintail's.
 
I really like that scenery shot Al. Nice drake wood duck. I'm on a mission this season to get one since I didn't get one at all last year. Normally I celebrate my birthday and teal season with a fresh plump woodduck.....but not for two seasons now...

Enjoy your season
 
Woodies have been scarce here this year. We've had three hunts at a small pocket marsh with a lot of standing timber where woodies are usually at least half of our bag without getting a single one. I talked to a buddy who specializes in woodies and takes them seriously and he's had only two all season. Normally he's taking regular limits. I've only had one so far.

Al, I'm guessing they're pretty rare where you are?

Great shots with both gun and camera!
 
Beautiful drake woodie, great way to start the season!
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Thanks a lot, Carl. I sure had fun on that morning. By the way, I wanted you to know that the reason the Rio Grande went from 61 cfs to almost 2,000 cfs, was that they emptied a reservoir in the Rockies of northern New Mexico. I have to wait until next week when they are done, so it looks like no hunting the Rio Grande for another week.
Al
 
A beautiful morning, one shot, one bird, and as far as I'm concerned the Best duck to start the season with. Congratulations. Our season opens Sat. hope some Wood ducks are still around........
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Thank you, Vince. You know, a few years ago, I would have been wondering where the ducks were but now---I'm just happy to be out duck hunting with my decoys in the water instead of the sand.
Al
 
I'm with you on the amazing beauty of a drake Woodie! The first duck my son shot was a drake Woodie. He was about 10 yrs old and armed with a .410. We found a little hole of water made by beavers and built a simple brush blind. We didn't have any duck hunting equipment what so ever....just shotguns. When we would knock down a woodie, I would take my shoes and socks off and wade in after them. BBBRRR! But it was worth it and made memories that will last a lifetime. Probably that early initial success is what hooked my son on duck hunting. You can only imagine what goes through a kid's mind when holding his first duck and it's a drake woodie!
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What a great story, Tom. Thanks for telling it. We are very lucky. I still chuckle when I think of the camo we used to wear back in the 50's. It was all the same color and like one of my mentors told me, "Who cares what you wear when you are out in the marsh. Just don't move. Try to wear colors that blend in like brown or green." I enjoyed the part of taking your shoes and socks off-----remember it well.
Al
 
Al~

Spectacular setting with gorgeous light - sounds like a fine morning.

I get a kick out of your 3rd photo. I always advise new gunners to "hold for the bill" - looks like you got that habit down pat!

All the best,

SJS
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Hey Steve,
Glad you liked those pictures. As for holding on the head, that was just pure luck. My Benelli Nova barrel is still bent a little to the left. So whenever I put down a duck going from right to left, it leaves me wondering if I would have killed it if my barrel was straight. The gunsmith did his best when he repaired it and I have just adapted to the circumstances, that's all. I thought I would have to buy a new barrel and so did all the employees of the sporting goods store where I bought the gun. Most said, "No way can that bend be fixed."
Al
 
If you are only going to get one shot make the most of it. Looks like you did that. Great job catching some beautiful images.

Tim
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Thanks so much, Tim. It's fun to be able to take shots with both the cannon and the Canon!
Al
 
Al,

Good for you. Glad you have some water this year. I love Woodies and Widgeon. They're my favorite. The woody I got Sunday was a juvie. Just getting his colors with a little patch of green on the head. I've always wanted to get a nice full color to mount. Had one in the freezer years ago to have mounted and the power went out when we were on spring vacation. Lost the woody, two nice bass and a northern I was wanting to have mounted. After that I just eat them.
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Sorry to hear of that loss, Ed, when the freezer thawed. That happened to me also with a drake cinnamon that I had already for Chip when I was going to train him. Oh,well, I guess I can start over again. I see you have decided just to enjoy them on the plate instead. Good for you. By the way, I remember what it was like trying to clean out that mess----yikes!
Al
 
Al,

Sounds like a great start to the season. Those pictures are gorgeous with all the colors and rich tones.

Paul
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Thanks, Paul. The leaves on the cottonwoods are now just beginning to turn. It should hold until around the middle of November before they start falling. I love this time of the year.
Al
 
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